¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(A) to the covenants of the promise,^(B) without hope^(C) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(D) were far away have been brought near^(E) by the blood of Christ.^(F)

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace,^(G) who has made the two groups one^(H) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh^(I) the law with its commands and regulations.^(J) His purpose was to create in himself one^(K) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(L) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace^(M) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(N) 18} For through him we both have access^(O) to the Father^(P) by one Spirit.^(Q)

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(R) but fellow citizens^(S) with God’s people and also members of his household,^{(T) 20} built^(U) on the foundation^(V) of the apostles and prophets,^(W) with Christ Jesus himself^(X) as the chief cornerstone.^{(Y) 21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(Z) in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(AA)

Watchfulness^(A)(B)

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.^(C) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.^{(D) 38} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.