¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will ^(A)entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

^28 (A)Come to ^(B)me, all who labor and are ^(C)heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and ^(D)learn from me, for I am ^(E)gentle and lowly in heart, and ^(F)you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For ^(G)my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

^39 (A)And he came out and went, ^(B)as was his custom, to ^(C)the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. ^40 (D)And when he came to ^(E)the place, he said to them, ^(F)“Pray that you may not ^(G)enter into temptation.” ⁴¹ And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and ^(H)knelt down and prayed, ⁴² saying, ^(I)“Father, if you are willing, remove ^(J)this cup from me. ^(K)Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” ⁴³ And there appeared to him ^(L)an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ Now when they heard these things ^(A)they were enraged, and they ^(B)ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But he, ^(C)full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw ^(D)the glory of God, and Jesus standing ^(E)at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold, I see ^(F)the heavens opened, and ^(G)the Son of Man standing ^(H)at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together^[a] at him. ⁵⁸ Then ^(I)they cast him out of the city and ^(J)stoned him. And ^(K)the witnesses laid down their garments ^(L)at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, ^(M)he called out, “Lord Jesus, ^(N)receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ And ^(O)falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ^(P)“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, ^(Q)he fell asleep.

God of All Comfort

^3 (A)Blessed be the ^(B)God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and ^(C)God of all comfort, ^4 (D)who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in ^(E)Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.^{[a] 6 (F)}If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you ^(G)share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

⁸ For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,^[b] of ^(H)the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us ^(I)rely not on ourselves ^(J)but on God ^(K)who raises the dead. ^10 (L)He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. ^(M)On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. ^11 (N)You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf ^(O)for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.