Acts 12 (AMP)

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Acts Chapter 12 (AMP)

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¹ But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary;

² and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty,

³ while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it,

⁴ so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.

⁵ And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.

⁶ Now you [collectively] are Christ's body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].

⁷ So God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues.

⁸ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

⁹ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

¹⁰ But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal]. And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].

¹¹ If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not[1] love [for others growing out of God's love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].

¹² And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.

¹³ If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body[2] to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.

¹⁴ Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.

¹⁵ It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.

¹⁶ It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].

¹⁷ Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

¹⁸ Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.

¹⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].

²⁰ But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away.

²¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

²² For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].

²³ And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God's love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

²⁴ Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may[1] prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

²⁵ For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things].

#	AMP
1	But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary;
2	and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
3	while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it,
4	so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
5	And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.
6	Now you [collectively] are Christ's body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].
7	So God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues.
8	Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
9	Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
10	But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal]. And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].
11	If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not[1] love [for others growing out of God's love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].
12	And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.
13	If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body[2] to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
14	Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.
15	It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.
16	It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].
17	Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
18	Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.
19	For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].
20	But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away.
21	When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
22	For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].
23	And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God's love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.
24	Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may[1] prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].
25	For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things].

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