The angel said to me, "Daniel, God loves you. Stand up and listen carefully to what I am going to say. I have been sent to you." When he had said this, I stood up, still trembling.

When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid.

Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant.

Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, "Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive?

"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said.

"But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do."

I asked, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that God has determined for you to do.'

The LORD came and stood there, and called as he had before, "Samuel! Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak; your servant is listening."

and said: 'Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity.

listen to their prayers. In heaven, where you live, hear them and do what they ask you to do, so that all the peoples of the world may know you and obey you, as your people Israel do. Then they will know that this Temple I have built is where you are to be worshiped.

About this time King Hezekiah became sick and almost died. He prayed, and the LORD gave him a sign that he would recover.

Receive my prayer as incense, my uplifted hands as an evening sacrifice.

"Let us go to court; bring your accusation! Present your case to prove you are in the right!

Then the people who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard what they said. In his presence, there was written down in a book a record of those who feared the LORD and respected him.

But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John.

Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

I have not spoken in secret or kept my purpose hidden. I did not require the people of Israel to look for me in a desolate waste. I am the LORD, and I speak the truth; I make known what is right."

Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me---and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him.

God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.

Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.