¹⁵ but ^[a]sanctify ^(A)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(B)to make a ^[b]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(C)hope that is in you, but ^(D)with gentleness and ^(E)respect;

¹⁴ Do all things without ^(A)complaining or arguments; ¹⁵ so that you will ^[a]prove yourselves to be ^(B)blameless and innocent, ^(C)children of God above reproach in the midst of a ^(D)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you ^[b](E)appear as ^[c]lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding firmly the word of life, so that on ^(F)the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not ^(G)run in vain nor ^(H)labor in vain.

⁴⁸ but the one who did not ^(A)know it, and committed acts deserving of ^[a]a beating, will receive only a few blows. ^(B)From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

^12 (A)for the equipping of the ^[a]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(B)the body of Christ;