⁴⁰ So they went out of the prison ^(A)and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

² and sent ^(A)Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, ^3 (B)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that ^(C)we are appointed to this.

¹⁴ Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of ^(A)Thyatira, who worshiped God. ^(B)The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, ^(A)exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ^(B)“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Seeing the Invisible

¹⁶ Therefore we ^(A)do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is ^(B)being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For ^(C)our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ^18 (D)while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Comfort in Suffering

^3 (A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who ^(B)comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any ^[a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as ^(C)the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our ^[b]consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶ Now if we are afflicted, ^(D)it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. ⁷ And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that ^(E)as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

⁸ We are ^(A)hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not ^(B)forsaken; ^(C)struck down, but not destroyed— ^10 (D)always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, ^(E)that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live ^(F)are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you.

¹² So, when he had considered this, ^(A)he came to the house of Mary, the mother of ^(B)John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together ^(C)praying. ¹³ And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. ¹⁵ But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, ^(D)“It is his angel.”

¹⁶ Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ But ^(E)motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

Prayer for Boldness^(A)

²³ And being let go, ^(B)they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.