¹⁵ After ^(A)the reading from ^(B)the Law and the Prophets, ^(C)the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any ^(D)word of encouragement for the people, say it.”

¹⁶ So Paul stood up, and ^(A)motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and ^(B)you who fear God, listen.

²⁶ “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you ^(A)who fear God, to us has been sent ^(B)the message of ^(C)this salvation. ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because ^(D)they did not recognize him nor understand ^(E)the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, ^(F)fulfilled them by condemning him. ²⁸ And ^(G)though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, ^(H)they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ And when ^(I)they had carried out all that was written of him, ^(J)they took him down from ^(K)the tree and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But ^(L)God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days ^(M)he appeared to those ^(N)who had come up with him ^(O)from Galilee to Jerusalem, ^(P)who are now ^(Q)his witnesses to the people. ³² And we bring you the good news ^(R)that what God promised to the fathers, ^33 (S)this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

³⁴ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, ^(U)(V)no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

³⁵ Therefore he says also in another psalm,

³⁶ For David, after he had ^(Y)served the purpose of God in his own generation, ^(Z)fell asleep and ^(AA)was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, ³⁷ but he whom ^(AB)God raised up did not see corruption. ³⁸ Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, ^(AC)that through this man ^(AD)forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and by him ^(AE)everyone who believes is freed^[a] from everything ^(AF)from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

⁹ After this I looked, and behold, ^(A)a great multitude that no one could number, ^(B)from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, ^(C)clothed in white robes, with ^(D)palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, ^(E)“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and ^(F)the four living creatures, and they ^(G)fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ^12 (H)saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, ^(I)clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of ^(J)the great tribulation. ^(K)They have washed their robes and ^(L)made them white ^(M)in the blood of the Lamb.

I and the Father Are One

²² At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking in the temple, ^(A)in the colonnade of Solomon. ²⁴ So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are ^(B)the Christ, ^(C)tell us plainly.” ²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. ^(D)The works that I do ^(E)in my Father's name bear witness about me, ²⁶ but ^(F)you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. ^27 (G)My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ^28 (H)I give them eternal life, and ^(I)they will never perish, and ^(J)no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, ^(K)who has given them to me,^{[a] (L)}is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of ^(M)the Father's hand. ^30 (N)I and the Father are one.”