¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby ^(A)lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But ^(B)Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, ^(C)glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Let Us Sing Songs of Praise

²¹ Jesus said to her, ^(A)“Woman, believe me, ^(B)the hour is coming when ^(C)neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. ^22 (D)You worship what you do not know; ^(E)we worship what we know, for ^(F)salvation is ^(G)from the Jews. ²³ But ^(H)the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father ^(I)in spirit and ^(J)truth, for the Father ^(K)is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

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.

¹⁸ And ^(A)do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(B)debauchery, but ^(C)be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in ^(D)psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ^20 (E)giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father ^(F)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,