Gentiles Hear the Good News

³⁴ So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that ^(A)God ^(B)shows no partiality, ³⁵ but ^(C)in every nation anyone who fears him and ^(D)does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ As for ^(E)the word that he sent to Israel, ^(F)preaching good news of ^(G)peace through Jesus Christ (^(H)he is Lord of all), ³⁷ you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, ^(I)beginning ^(J)from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: ³⁸ how ^(K)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth ^(L)with the Holy Spirit and with ^(M)power. He went about doing good and healing all ^(N)who were oppressed by the devil, ^(O)for God was with him. ³⁹ And ^(P)we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. ^(Q)They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but ^(R)God raised him on ^(S)the third day and made him to ^(T)appear, ^41 (U)not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as ^(V)witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And ^(W)he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify ^(X)that he is the one appointed by God to be judge ^(Y)of the living and the dead. ^43 (Z)To him ^(AA)all the prophets bear witness that ^(AB)everyone who believes in him receives ^(AC)forgiveness of sins ^(AD)through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, ^(AE)the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among ^(AF)the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because ^(AG)the gift of the Holy Spirit ^(AH)was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them ^(AI)speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ^47 (AJ)“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit ^(AK)just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he ^(AL)commanded them ^(AM)to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

A Psalm.

Overcoming the World

5 ^(A)Everyone who believes that ^(B)Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and ^(C)everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. ^2 (D)By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³ For ^(E)this is the love of God, that we ^(F)keep his commandments. And ^(G)his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For ^(H)everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—^(I)our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes ^(J)that Jesus is the Son of God?

Testimony Concerning the Son of God

⁶ This is he who came ^(K)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And ^(L)the Spirit is the one who testifies, because ^(M)the Spirit is the truth. ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

^9 (A)As the Father has loved me, ^(B)so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ^10 (C)If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as ^(D)I have kept ^(E)my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, ^(F)that my joy may be in you, and that ^(G)your joy may be full.

^12 (H)“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ^13 (I)Greater love has no one than this, ^(J)that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are ^(K)my friends ^(L)if you do what I command you. ^15 (M)No longer do I call you servants,^[a] for the servant ^(N)does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for ^(O)all that I have heard from my Father ^(P)I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but ^(Q)I chose you and appointed you that you should go and ^(R)bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that ^(S)whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, ^(T)so that you will love one another.