¹⁷ “Yet now, brethren, I know that ^(A)you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But ^(B)those things which God foretold ^(C)by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. ^19 (D)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,

⁸ and

^(B)They stumble, being disobedient to the word, ^(C)to which they also were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of ^(D)darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (E)who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Living Before the World

¹¹ Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts ^(F)which war against the soul, ^12 (G)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, ^(H)they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Government^(I)

^13 (J)Therefore submit yourselves to every ^[a]ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— ^16 (K)as free, yet not ^(L)using liberty as a cloak for ^[b]vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear ^(M)God. Honor the king.