²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem,^(A) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas^(B) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,^(C) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.^{(D) 28} So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a](E) but they tried to kill him.^{(F) 30} When the believers^(G) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea^(H) and sent him off to Tarsus.^(I)

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria^(J) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.^(K)

¹⁸ Dear children,^(A) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.^(B)

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Dear friends,^(C) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God^{(D) 22} and receive from him anything we ask,^(E) because we keep his commands^(F) and do what pleases him.^{(G) 23} And this is his command: to believe^(H) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,^(I) and to love one another as he commanded us.^{(J) 24} The one who keeps God’s commands^(K) lives in him,^(L) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.^(M)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine,^(B) and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(C) while every branch that does bear fruit^(D) he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.^{(E) 4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you.^(F) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;^(G) apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(H) 7} If you remain in me^(I) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(J) 8} This is to my Father’s glory,^(K) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.^(L)