¹⁸ knowing that you ^(A)were ransomed from ^(B)the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but ^(C)with the precious blood of Christ, like that of ^(D)a lamb ^(E)without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but ^(F)was made manifest ^(G)in the last times for the sake of you ^21 (H)who through him are believers in God, ^(I)who raised him from the dead and ^(J)gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for ^(K)a sincere brotherly love, ^(L)love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ^23 (M)since you have been born again, ^(N)not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through ^(O)the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

^3 (A)Blessed be ^(B)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing ^(C)in the heavenly places,

¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith ^(A)apart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^(B)by my works. ^19 (C)You believe that God is one; you do well. Even ^(D)the demons believe—and shudder!

For God So Loved the World

¹⁶ “For ^(A)God so loved ^(B)the world,^{[a] (C)}that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not ^(D)perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For ^(E)God did not send his Son into the world ^(F)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ^18 (G)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not ^(H)believed in the name of the only Son of God.

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, that is, after the day of ^(A)Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember how ^(B)that impostor said, while he was still alive, ^(C)‘After three days I will rise.’ ⁶⁴ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, ^(D)lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, “You have ^(E)a guard^[a] of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by ^(F)sealing the stone and setting a guard.

The Report of the Guard

¹¹ While they were going, behold, some of ^(A)the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. ¹² And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers ¹³ and said, “Tell people, ^(B)‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ And if this comes to ^(C)the governor's ears, we will ^(D)satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews ^(E)to this day.

The Resurrection

24 ^(A)But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, ^(B)taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found ^(C)the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, ^(D)two ^(E)men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were ^(F)frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, ^(G)while he was still in Galilee, ^7 (H)that the Son of Man ^(I)must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and ^(J)be crucified and on ^(K)the third day rise.” ⁸ And ^(L)they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they ^(M)told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was ^(N)Mary Magdalene and ^(O)Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, ¹¹ but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and ^(P)they did not believe them. ¹² But ^(Q)Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw ^(R)the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

⁹ because, if ^(A)you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and ^(B)believe in your heart ^(C)that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.