One in Christ

¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called ^(A)the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember ^(B)that you were at that time separated from Christ, ^(C)alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to ^(D)the covenants of promise, ^(E)having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were ^(F)far off have been brought near ^(G)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For ^(H)he himself is our peace, ^(I)who has made us both one and has broken down ^(J)in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ^(K)ordinances, that he might create in himself one ^(L)new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might ^(M)reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and ^(N)preached peace to you who were ^(O)far off and peace to those who were ^(P)near. ¹⁸ For ^(Q)through him we both have ^(R)access in ^(S)one Spirit to the Father.

The Servant of the Lord

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And ^(A)at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And ^(B)they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking ^(C)Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and ^(D)Medes and ^(E)Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and ^(F)proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all ^(A)the peoples, nations, and languages ^(B)that dwell in all the earth: ^(C)“Peace be multiplied to you. ^26 (D)I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion ^(E)people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

²⁷ And the ^(A)satraps, the prefects, the governors, and ^(B)the king's counselors gathered together and saw that ^(C)the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their ^(D)cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. ²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of ^(E)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who ^(F)has sent his angel and ^(G)delivered his servants, who ^(H)trusted in him, and set aside^[a] the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than ^(I)serve and worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore ^(J)I make a decree: Any ^(K)people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of ^(L)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ^(M)shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” ³⁰ Then the king promoted ^(N)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in ^(O)the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

4 ^[b] King Nebuchadnezzar to all ^(P)peoples, nations, and languages, ^(Q)that dwell in all the earth: ^(R)Peace be multiplied to you! ² It has seemed good to me to show the ^(S)signs and wonders that the ^(T)Most High God has done for me.

²⁰ So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”