¹⁵ but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you,^(A)

⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.^(A)

²⁵ correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth^{(A) 26} and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.^[a]

¹⁴ So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance,^{(A) 15} for I will give you words^[a] and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.^(B)

² when they see the purity and respect of your conduct.

¹⁸ and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the gentiles.^{(A) 19} When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time, ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.^(B)

⁷ Now, therefore, take your stand so that I may enter into judgment with you before the Lord, and I will declare to you^[a] all the righteous acts of the Lord that he performed for you and for your ancestors.^(A)

² in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began^(A)—

²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.^(A)

The Peril of Falling Away

6 Therefore let us go on^[a] toward perfection,^[b] leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God,^(A)