“ Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings— just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

“诸君，为什么做这事呢？我们也是人，性情和你们一样。我们传福音给你们，是叫你们离弃这些虚妄，归向那创造天、地、海，和其中万物的永生神。

“诸位，为什么做这些事呢？我们也是人，性情和你们一样。我们传福音给你们，是要你们离弃这些虚妄的事，归向那创造天、地、海和其中万物的永生的上帝。

“诸位，为什么做这些事呢？我们也是人，性情和你们一样。我们传福音给你们，是要你们离弃这些虚妄的事，归向那创造天、地、海和其中万物的永生的神。

“各位，你们为什么这样做？我们和你们一样只是凡人！我们来这里是要向你们传福音，叫你们离弃这些虚妄的事，转向那创造天、地、海和其中万物的永活上帝。

“各位，为什么这样作呢？我们也是人，性情和你们一样，我们传福音给你们，正是要你们远离这些虚妄的事，归向永活的神，就是那创造天、地、海和其中万物的神。

喊着说：“各位，你们为什么做这些事呢？我们和你们同样是人！我们向你们传福音，是要你们离弃这些虚妄的事，归向永生的神，就是造了天、地、海和其中万有的神。

「諸君，為甚麼做這事呢？我們也是人，性情和你們一樣。我們傳福音給你們，是叫你們離棄這些虛妄，歸向那創造天、地、海，和其中萬物的永生神。

「諸位，為甚麼做這些事呢？我們也是人，性情和你們一樣。我們傳福音給你們，是要你們離棄這些虛妄的事，歸向那創造天、地、海和其中萬物的永生的上帝。

「諸位，為甚麼做這些事呢？我們也是人，性情和你們一樣。我們傳福音給你們，是要你們離棄這些虛妄的事，歸向那創造天、地、海和其中萬物的永生的神。

「各位，你們為什麼這樣做？我們和你們一樣只是凡人！我們來這裡是要向你們傳福音，叫你們離棄這些虛妄的事，轉向那創造天、地、海和其中萬物的永活上帝。

“各位，為甚麼這樣作呢？我們也是人，性情和你們一樣，我們傳福音給你們，正是要你們遠離這些虛妄的事，歸向永活的神，就是那創造天、地、海和其中萬物的神。

『同人哪，你們為甚麼這樣作？我們、也是人，和你們有同樣性質，正在傳好消息給你們，好使你們離棄這些虛妄，轉向永活的上帝，就是造天、地、海、和其中萬物的。

喊著說：「各位，你們為什麼做這些事呢？我們和你們同樣是人！我們向你們傳福音，是要你們離棄這些虛妄的事，歸向永生的神，就是造了天、地、海和其中萬有的神。

諸君何行此乎、我儕亦人、與爾同情、特宣福音予爾、使去此虛妄、歸於維生上帝、即造天地海、及其中之萬有者、

呼曰、爾曹何為如此、我儕亦人、與爾同情、特傳福音與爾、使去此虛妄、歸造天地海萬物之永生上帝也、

呼曰、爾曹何為行此、我儕亦人、與爾同情、特傳福音於爾、使爾棄此虛妄、而歸造天地海及其中萬物之永生天主、

『諸君、胡為出此、吾亦猶人、稟性與爾無異；傳爾福音、正欲使爾棄絕此等荒謬之事、而歸心於手創天地瀛海萬有之天主。

“ Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

“ Friends, why are you doing this? We are only human, just like you. We are bringing you good news. Turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the living God. He is the one who made the heavens and the earth and the sea. He made everything in them.

“ Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

“ People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

and saying,“ Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men, of the same nature as you, preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these useless things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them.

and saying,“ Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:

“ Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

“ Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them.

“ Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;

But Peter pulled him up and said,“ Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!”

Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you— they are totally useless!

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, you are the one, O Lord our God! Only you can do such things. So we will wait for you to help us.

So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.

“ Fear God,” he shouted.“ Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”

for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not God; they have provoked my anger with their useless idols. Now I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people; I will provoke their anger through the foolish Gentiles.

When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God:“ O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—

Simon Peter answered,“ You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.

“ It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied.“ But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

“ The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker.‘ Men,’ he said,‘ you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?’

“ And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors,

Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

This happened because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed, and because of the sins they led Israel to commit. They provoked the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols.

so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord.

I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!

This message concerning the fate of Israel came from the Lord:“ This message is from the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and formed the human spirit.

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

People who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood!

Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land.“ Has the Lord abandoned Jerusalem?” the people ask.“ Is her King no longer there?”“ Oh, why have they provoked my anger with their carved idols and their worthless foreign gods?” says the Lord.

I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!

“ Gather together and come, you fugitives from surrounding nations. What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save!

Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame.Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit?

But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.“ While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen.And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.

Then he brought them out and asked,“ Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”

They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.

Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.They decorate it with gold and silver and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails so it won’t fall over.Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.”

“ O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

David asked the soldiers standing nearby,“ What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

“ I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.

He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit. The people provoked the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols.

“ Men,” he said,“ I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on— shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.”

For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos.“ I am the Lord,” he says,“ and there is no other.

Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.

But the Lord is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King! The whole earth trembles at his anger. The nations cannot stand up to his wrath.Say this to those who worship other gods:“ Your so called gods, who did not make the heavens and earth, will vanish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city.He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said,“ What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said,“ He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.

The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life giving power to his Son.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.

This is what the Lord says:“ The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the Lord, refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors.

No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said,“ Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

But he said,“ No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

And there they preached the Good News.

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.

After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia,

The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power.Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said,“ No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”

The person who made the idol never stops to reflect,“ Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,“ Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”

“ He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man made temples,and human hands can’t serve his needs— for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.“ His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him— though he is not far from any one of us.For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said,‘ We are his offspring.’And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.“ God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.

Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we did and yet survive?

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.“ People of Israel,” he said,“ what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— the God of all our ancestors— who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him.

And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentilesto open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’“ And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven.I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God— and prove they have changed by the good things they do.

The people gave him a great ovation, shouting,“ It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.