3 Afterfeast of the Holy Theophany

In those days, it came to pass that while Apóllos was at Córinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Éphesus. And finding some disciples he said unto them, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” And they said unto him, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit.” And he said unto them, “Unto what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Unto the baptism of John.” Then said Paul, “John truly baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God.

Brethren, the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purged, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not desire, but a body hast Thou prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, ‘Behold, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God.’ ” Now when He said, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin Thou wouldest not, neither had pleasure in them” (which are offered by the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God;” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one Sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God; from that time waiting until His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them,” and “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Now where the remission of these is, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Chapter 21