⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel^(A) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.^(B) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior^(C) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,^(D) the Lord.^{(E) 12} This will be a sign^(F) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.^(H)

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am^(A) the way^(B) and the truth^(C) and the life.^(D) No one comes to the Father except through me.^{(E) 7} If you really know me, you will know^[a] my Father as well.^(F) From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

³⁷ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.^(A)

³⁸ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.^{(B) 39} And when the centurion,^(C) who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,^[a] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”^(D)

⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:^{(A) 7} ‘The Son of Man^(B) must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”^(C)

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,^(A) he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.^(B)

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost^(A) came, they were all together^(B) in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.^{(C) 3} They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit^(D) and began to speak in other tongues^[a](E) as the Spirit enabled them.

⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number^(A) that day.

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^{(A) 4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(B) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus^(A) to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples^(B) were called Christians first^(C) at Antioch.