30 Truly, (A)these times of ignorance God overlooked, but (B)now commands all men everywhere to repent,

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30 In the past God overlooked(A) such ignorance,(B) but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.(C)

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16 (A)who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

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16 In the past, he let(A) all nations go their own way.(B)

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47 and that repentance and (A)remission of sins should be preached in His name (B)to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

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47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name(A) to all nations,(B) beginning at Jerusalem.(C)

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Trained by Saving Grace

11 For (A)the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

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11 For the grace(A) of God has appeared(B) that offers salvation to all people.(C) 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,(D) and to live self-controlled,(E) upright and godly lives(F) in this present age,

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For we have spent enough of our past [a]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:3 NU time

For you have spent enough time in the past(A) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(B)

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25 whom God set forth (A)as a [a]propitiation (B)by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over (C)the sins that were previously committed,

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:25 mercy seat

25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a](A) through the shedding of his blood(B)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).

14 as obedient children, not (A)conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 (B)but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

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14 As obedient(A) children, do not conform(B) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.(C) 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;(D)

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The New Man

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should (A)no longer walk as [a]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the (B)blindness of their heart; 19 (C)who, being past feeling, (D)have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you (E)put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and (F)be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you (G)put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

25 Therefore, putting away lying, (H)Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for (I)we are members of one another. 26 (J)“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 (K)nor give [b]place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather (L)let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something (M)to give him who has need. 29 (N)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but (O)what is good for necessary [c]edification, (P)that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And (Q)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 (R)Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [d]clamor, and (S)evil speaking be put away from you, (T)with all malice. 32 And (U)be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (V)forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:17 NU omits the rest of
  2. Ephesians 4:27 an opportunity
  3. Ephesians 4:29 building up
  4. Ephesians 4:31 loud quarreling

Instructions for Christian Living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.(B) 18 They are darkened in their understanding(C) and separated from the life of God(D) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.(E) 19 Having lost all sensitivity,(F) they have given themselves over(G) to sensuality(H) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off(I) your old self,(J) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;(K) 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(L) 24 and to put on(M) the new self,(N) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(O)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(P) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(Q) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]:(R) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(S) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(T) doing something useful with their own hands,(U) that they may have something to share with those in need.(V)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(W) but only what is helpful for building others up(X) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(Y) with whom you were sealed(Z) for the day of redemption.(AA) 31 Get rid of(AB) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(AC) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(AD) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(AE)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)

Or do you despise (A)the riches of His goodness, (B)forbearance, and (C)longsuffering, (D)not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

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Or do you show contempt for the riches(A) of his kindness,(B) forbearance(C) and patience,(D) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?(E)

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17 I will [a]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, (A)to whom I [b]now send you, 18 (B)to open their eyes, in order (C)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, (D)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and (E)an inheritance among those who are (F)sanctified[c] by faith in Me.’

Paul’s Post-Conversion Life

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but (G)declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do (H)works befitting repentance.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:17 rescue
  2. Acts 26:17 NU, M omit now
  3. Acts 26:18 set apart

17 I will rescue you(A) from your own people and from the Gentiles.(B) I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes(C) and turn them from darkness to light,(D) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins(E) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(F)

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient(G) to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus,(H) then to those in Jerusalem(I) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,(J) I preached that they should repent(K) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.(L)

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19 (A)Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

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19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,(A) that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

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21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;
(A)You thought that I was altogether like you;
But I will rebuke you,
And (B)set them in order before your eyes.

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21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(A)
    you thought I was exactly[a] like you.
But I now arraign(B) you
    and set my accusations(C) before you.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be (A)partakers with them.

Walk in Light

For you were once darkness, but now you are (B)light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

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Let no one deceive you(A) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath(B) comes on those who are disobedient.(C) Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once(D) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(E)

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