Jesus Prays for His Disciples

17 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,^{(A) 2} since you have given him authority over all people,^[a] to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.^{(B) 3} And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.^{(C) 4} I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.^{(D) 5} So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.^(E)

⁶ “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.^{(F) 7} Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, ⁸ for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.^{(G) 9} I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.^{(H) 10} All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them.^{(I) 11} And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.^(J)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach^{(A) 2} until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.^{(B) 3} After his suffering^[a] he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.^{(C) 4} While staying^[b] with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me;^{(D) 5} for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with^[c] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”^(E)

The Ascension of Jesus

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”^{(F) 7} He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.^{(G) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”^{(H) 9} When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.^{(I) 10} While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.^{(J) 11} They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”^(K)

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of^[d] James.^{(L) 14} All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.^(M)

Psalm 68

Praise and Thanksgiving

To the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.^{(A) 14} If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,^[a] which is the Spirit of God,^[b] is resting on you.^{[c](B) 15} But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker.^{[d](C) 16} Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.^{[e] 17} For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?^{(D) 18} And

¹⁹ Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust their lives to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.^{(A) 8} Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.^{(B) 9} Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.^{(C) 10} And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,^[a] will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.^{(D) 11} To him be the power^[b] forever and ever. Amen.