¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.^{(A) 16} You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(B) so that you might go and bear fruit^(C)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^(D)

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me^(A) for one hour?” he asked Peter.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.^(A)

³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray^(A) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

¹² Be joyful in hope,^(A) patient in affliction,^(B) faithful in prayer.^(C)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(A) on all occasions^(B) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(C) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(D) for all the Lord’s people.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer,^(A) being watchful and thankful.

¹⁷ pray continually,^(A)