13 Now (A)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 (B)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. (C)Have no fear of them, (D)nor be troubled, 15 but (E)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, (F)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and (G)respect,

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13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(A) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(B) “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”[b](C) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(D) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(E) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
  2. 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12

Bondservants and Masters

(A)Bondservants,[a] obey your earthly masters[b] with fear and trembling, (B)with a sincere heart, (C)as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as (D)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (E)knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, (F)whether he is a bondservant or is free.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8
  2. Ephesians 6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(A) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(B) just as you would obey Christ.(C) Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(D) doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(E) because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(F) whether they are slave or free.

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14 (A)“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 (B)Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so (C)that[a] they may see your good works and (D)give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:16 Or house. 16Let your light so shine before others that

14 “You are the light of the world.(A) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.(B) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(C) that they may see your good deeds(D) and glorify(E) your Father in heaven.

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27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be (A)a Christian?”[a] 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day (B)might become such as I am—except for (C)these chains.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:28 Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian!

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”(A)

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”(B)

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21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, (A)you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this (B)injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to (C)take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night (D)there (E)stood before me (F)an angel of the God (G)to whom I belong and (H)whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; (I)you must stand before Caesar. And behold, (J)God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But (K)we must (L)run aground on some island.”

27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms.[a] A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.[b] 29 And fearing that we might (M)run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered (N)the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.

33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,[c] for (O)not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and (P)giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all (Q)were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276[d] (R)persons in the ship.)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:28 About 120 feet; a fathom (Greek orguia) was about 6 feet or 2 meters
  2. Acts 27:28 About 90 feet (see previous note)
  3. Acts 27:34 Or For it is for your deliverance
  4. Acts 27:37 Some manuscripts seventy-six, or about seventy-six

21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice(A) not to sail from Crete;(B) then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage,(C) because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel(D) of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve(E) stood beside me(F) 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;(G) and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’(H) 25 So keep up your courage,(I) men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.(J) 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground(K) on some island.”(L)

The Shipwreck

27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[a] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[b] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[c] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat(M) down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”(N) 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”(O) 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it(P) and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged(Q) and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 27:27 In ancient times the name referred to an area extending well south of Italy.
  2. Acts 27:28 Or about 37 meters
  3. Acts 27:28 Or about 27 meters

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense,[a] and (A)welcomed all who came to him, 31 (B)proclaiming (C)the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ (D)with all boldness and (E)without hindrance.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 28:30 Or in his own hired dwelling

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God(A) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness(B) and without hindrance!

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