11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(A) was enabled to bear children(B) because she[a] considered him faithful(C) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(D) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(E)

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(F) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(G) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(H) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(I) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(J) Therefore God is not ashamed(K) to be called their God,(L) for he has prepared a city(M) for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(N) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b](O) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(P) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
  2. Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12

Gethsemane(A)

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee(B) along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow(C) to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”(D)

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup(E) be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”(F)

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me(G) for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.(H) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”(I)

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour(J) has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

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