²⁷ Now in these days ^(A)prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ And one of them named ^(B)Agabus stood up and foretold ^(C)by the Spirit that there would be a great ^(D)famine over all the world (this took place in the days of ^(E)Claudius). ²⁹ So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^(F)to send relief to ^(G)the brothers^[a] living in Judea. ^30 (H)And they did so, sending it to ^(I)the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ² He killed ^(J)James the brother of John ^(K)with the sword, ³ and when he saw ^(L)that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during ^(M)the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ And when he had seized him, he put him ^(N)in prison, delivering him over to four ^(O)squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest ^(P)prayer for him was made to God by the church.

²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together ^(A)for good,^[a] for ^(B)those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he ^(C)foreknew he also ^(D)predestined ^(E)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be ^(F)the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also ^(G)justified, and those whom he justified he also ^(H)glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? ^(I)If God is for us, who can be^[b] against us? ^32 (J)He who did not spare his own Son but ^(K)gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? ^(L)It is God who justifies. ^34 (M)Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—^(N)who is at the right hand of God, ^(O)who indeed is interceding for us.^{[c] 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than ^(R)conquerors through ^(S)him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Request of James and John

^35 (A)And James and John, ^(B)the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us ^(C)whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, ^(D)“What do you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us ^(E)to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, ^(F)in your glory.” ³⁸ Jesus said to them, ^(G)“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ^(H)to drink the cup that I drink, or ^(I)to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, ^(J)“The cup that I drink ^(K)you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, ^(L)you will be baptized, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, ^(M)but it is for those for whom it has been ^(N)prepared.” ⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. ^42 (O)And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles ^(P)lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But ^(Q)it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,^{[a] 44} and whoever would be first among you must be ^(R)slave^[b] of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but ^(S)to serve, and ^(T)to give his life as a ransom for ^(U)many.”