The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² And ^(A)they devoted themselves to the apostles' ^(B)teaching and the ^(C)fellowship, to ^(D)the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe^[a] came upon every soul, and ^(E)many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and ^(F)had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And ^(G)they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, ^(H)attending the temple ^(I)together and ^(J)breaking bread in their homes, they received their food ^(K)with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and ^(L)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(M)added to their number ^(N)day by day those who ^(O)were being saved.

The Message of Salvation to All

⁵ For ^(A)Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that ^(B)the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But ^(C)the righteousness based on faith says, ^(D)“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the ^(E)abyss?’” (that is, ^(F)to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? ^(G)“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if ^(H)you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and ^(I)believe in your heart ^(J)that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, ^(K)“Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ^12 (L)For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; ^(M)for the same Lord is Lord of all, ^(N)bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For ^(O)“everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him ^(P)of whom they have never heard?^[a] And how are they to hear ^(Q)without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ^(R)“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord appointed ^(A)seventy-two^[a] others and ^(B)sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. ^2 (C)And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ^(D)Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. ³ Go your way; ^(E)behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. ^4 (F)Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and ^(G)greet no one on the road. ⁵ Whatever house you enter, first say, ^(H)‘Peace be to this house!’ ⁶ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, ^(I)it will return to you. ⁷ And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for ^(J)the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. ⁸ Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. ⁹ Heal the sick in it and say to them, ^(K)‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ^11 (L)‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that ^(M)the kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, ^(N)it will be more bearable on ^(O)that day for Sodom than for that town.