²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them.”^(A)

¹³ These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance,^(A) greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.^{(B) 14} Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.^(C)

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.^(D) He received the promises and he was offering his unique son, ¹⁸ the one it had been said about, Your seed will be traced^[a] through Isaac.^{(E)[b] 19} He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead,^(F) and as an illustration,^[c] he received him back.