¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(A) but fellow citizens^(B) with God’s people and also members of his household,^{(C) 20} built^(D) on the foundation^(E) of the apostles and prophets,^(F) with Christ Jesus himself^(G) as the chief cornerstone.^{(H) 21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(I) in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(J)

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^(K) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^(L) for you, ³ that is, the mystery^(M) made known to me by revelation,^(N) as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(O) into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.^{(P) 6} This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^(Q) together with Israel, members together of one body,^(R) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^(S)

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel^(T) by the gift of God’s grace given me^(U) through the working of his power.^(V)

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.^(A)

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts^(B)(C)(D)

¹² The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.^{(E) 14} Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’^[a]?^(F) But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^[b]”^(G)

¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him,^(H) because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.^(I)

¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples^[c] went out of the city.^(J)

²⁰ In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(K) look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly^[d] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.^(L)