Dedication to Theophilus

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that ^(A)have been accomplished among us,

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, O ^(A)Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began ^(B)to do and teach, ² until the day when ^(C)he was taken up, after he ^(D)had given commands ^(E)through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ^3 (F)He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

¹⁶ For we did not follow ^(A)cleverly devised ^(B)myths when we made known to you ^(C)the power and ^(D)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but ^(E)we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ^(F)“This is my beloved Son,^[a] with whom I am well pleased,” ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on ^(G)the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And ^(H)we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention ^(I)as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until ^(J)the day ^(K)dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

^31 (A)but these are written so that you may ^(B)believe that Jesus is the Christ, ^(C)the Son of God, and that by believing ^(D)you may have life ^(E)in his name.

¹⁶ Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

¹⁷ But ^(A)the Lord stood by me and ^(B)strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and ^(C)all the Gentiles might hear it. So ^(D)I was rescued ^(E)from the lion's mouth.