¹⁴ And here he has authority from ^(A)the chief priests to bind all who ^(B)call on your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^(C)he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name ^(D)before the Gentiles and ^(E)kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For ^(F)I will show him how much ^(G)he must suffer ^(H)for the sake of my name.”

Peace with God Through Faith

5 ^(A)Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, ^(B)we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also ^(C)obtained access by faith^[b] into this grace ^(D)in which we stand, and ^(E)we^[c] rejoice^[d] in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we ^(F)rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering ^(G)produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and ^(H)hope does not put us to shame, because God's love ^(I)has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of ^(A)the surpassing worth of ^(B)knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ^(C)have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having ^(D)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^(E)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ^10 (F)that I may know him and ^(G)the power of his resurrection, and ^(H)may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may ^(I)attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already ^(J)obtained this or ^(K)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^(L)forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for ^(M)the prize of the upward ^(N)call of God in Christ Jesus.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (A)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[a] when you meet trials ^(B)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(C)the testing of your faith ^(D)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(E)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

^12 (A)which is why I suffer as I do. But ^(B)I am not ashamed, for ^(C)I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until ^(D)that day ^(E)what has been entrusted to me.^[a]

¹² Indeed, all who desire to ^(A)live a godly life in Christ Jesus ^(B)will be persecuted,

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at ^(A)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice ^(B)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(C)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (D)If you are insulted ^(E)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[a] and of God rests upon you.

¹⁰ And ^(A)after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, ^(B)who has called you to his ^(C)eternal glory in Christ, will himself ^(D)restore, ^(E)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ^11 (F)To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.