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Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Once while Jesus[a] was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.(A) When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”(B) Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”(C) When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”(D) 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.(E)

Jesus Cleanses a Man with a Skin Disease

12 Once when he was in one of the cities, a man covered with a skin disease was there. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”(F) 13 Then Jesus[b] stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing. Be made clean.” Immediately the skin disease left him. 14 And he ordered him to tell no one. “But go, show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”(G) 15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus[c] spread abroad; many crowds were gathering to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.(H) 16 Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray.(I)

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

17 One day while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were sitting nearby, and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.[d](J) 18 Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,[e] 19 but, finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the crowd[f] in front of Jesus.(K) 20 When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend,[g] your sins are forgiven you.”(L) 21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”(M) 22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your stretcher and go to your home.” 25 Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26 Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”(N)

Jesus Calls Levi

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And he got up, left everything, and followed him.(O)

29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining at the table with them.(P) 30 The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”(Q) 31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick; 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”(R)

The Question about Fasting

33 Then they said to him, “John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.”(S) 34 Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding attendants fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”(T) 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise, not only will one tear the new garment, but the piece from the new will not match the old garment. 37 Similarly, no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins and will spill out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.[h] 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine but says, ‘The old is good.’ ”[i]

Footnotes

  1. 5.1 Gk he
  2. 5.13 Gk he
  3. 5.15 Gk him
  4. 5.17 Other ancient authorities read was present to heal them
  5. 5.18 Gk him
  6. 5.19 Gk into the midst
  7. 5.20 Gk Man
  8. 5.38 Other ancient authorities add and both are preserved
  9. 5.39 Other ancient authorities read better; others lack 5.39

Salutation

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood:

May grace and peace be yours in abundance.(A)

A Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead(B) and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.(C) In this you rejoice,[a] even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,(D) so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.(E) Although you have not seen[b] him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,(F) for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.[c]

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace intended for you made careful search and inquiry,(G) 11 inquiring about the time and circumstances[d] that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ and the subsequent glory.(H) 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!(I)

A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore prepare your minds for action;[e] discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.(J) 14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. 15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct,(K) 16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”(L)

17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges impartially according to each person’s work, live in fear during the time of your exile.(M) 18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.(N) 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.(O) 21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.

22 Now that you have purified your souls[f] by your obedience to the truth[g] so that you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart.[h](P) 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.[i](Q) 24 For

“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,(R)
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

That word is the good news that was announced to you.(S)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.(T) Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation(U) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.[j](V)

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones let yourselves be built[k] into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(W) For it stands in scripture:

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”(X)

This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,[l]

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the very head of the corner,”(Y)

and

“A stone that makes them stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.(Z)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,[m] in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.(AA)

10 Once you were not a people,
    but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
    but now you have received mercy.(AB)

Live as Servants of God

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.[n](AC) 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.[o](AD)

13 For the Lord’s sake be subject to every human authority,[p] whether to the emperor as supreme(AE) 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16 As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.(AF) 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers.[q] Fear God. Honor the emperor.(AG)

The Example of Christ’s Suffering

18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all respect,[r] not only those who are good and gentle but also those who are dishonest. 19 For it is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God.(AH) 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.(AI)

22 “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.(AJ) 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,[s] so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds[t] you have been healed.(AK) 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.[u](AL)

Wives and Husbands

Wives, in the same way, be subject to your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct,(AM) when they see the purity and respect of your conduct. Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;(AN) rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.(AO) It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by being subject to their husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.(AP)

Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman—though the weaker vessel,[v] they are joint heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.(AQ)

Suffering for Doing Right

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.(AR) Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.(AS) 10 For

“Those who desire to love life
    and to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
    and their lips from speaking deceit;
11 let them turn away from evil and do good;
    let them seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right,[w] you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear,[x] and do not be intimidated,(AT) 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you,(AU) 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned,[y] those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.(AV) 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered[z] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you[aa] to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,(AW) 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight lives, were saved through water.(AX) 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for[ab] a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AY) 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.(AZ)

Good Stewards of God’s Grace

Since, therefore, Christ suffered in the flesh,[ac] arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin),(BA) so as to live for the rest of your time in the flesh no longer by human desires but by the will of God.(BB) You have already spent enough time in doing what the gentiles like to do, living in debauchery, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.(BC) They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme.[ad](BD) But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.(BE) For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.

The end of all things is near;[ae] therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.(BF) Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.(BG) Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.(BH) 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.(BI)

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.(BJ) 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,[af] which is the Spirit of God,[ag] is resting on you.[ah](BK) 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker.[ai](BL) 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.[aj] 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(BM) 18 And

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust their lives to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

Footnotes

  1. 1.6 Or Rejoice in this
  2. 1.8 Other ancient authorities read known
  3. 1.9 Or lives
  4. 1.11 Or the person and time
  5. 1.13 Gk gird up the loins of your mind
  6. 1.22 Or lives
  7. 1.22 Other ancient authorities add through the Spirit
  8. 1.22 Other ancient authorities read a pure heart
  9. 1.23 Or through the word of the living and enduring God
  10. 2.3 Or kind
  11. 2.5 Or you yourselves are being built
  12. 2.7 Other ancient authorities read obey
  13. 2.9 Gk a people for his possession
  14. 2.11 Or one’s life
  15. 2.12 Gk God on the day of visitation
  16. 2.13 Or every authority ordained for humans
  17. 2.17 Gk Love the brotherhood
  18. 2.18 Or fear
  19. 2.24 Or carried up our sins in his body to the tree
  20. 2.24 Gk bruise
  21. 2.25 Or lives
  22. 3.7 Or body
  23. 3.14 Or for righteousness’ sake
  24. 3.14 Gk their fear
  25. 3.16 Other ancient authorities read when they malign you as evildoers
  26. 3.18 Other ancient authorities read died
  27. 3.18 Other ancient authorities read us
  28. 3.21 Or a pledge to God from
  29. 4.1 Other ancient authorities add for us or for you
  30. 4.4 Or they malign you
  31. 4.7 Or is at hand
  32. 4.14 Other ancient authorities add and of power
  33. 4.14 Or spirit of glory and of God
  34. 4.14 Other ancient authorities add On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified
  35. 4.15 Meaning of Gk uncertain
  36. 4.16 Other ancient authorities read in this respect

The Promise of the Lord’s Coming

This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts(A) and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died,[a] all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”(B) They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,(C) through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.(D) But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.(E)

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.(F) The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,[b] not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.(G) 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.[c](H)

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening[d] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and destroyed and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.(I)

Final Exhortation and Doxology

14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish,(J) 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,(K) 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist[e] to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.(L) 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.[f]

Footnotes

  1. 3.4 Gk our fathers fell asleep
  2. 3.9 Other ancient authorities read on your account
  3. 3.10 Other ancient authorities read will not be found or will be burned up
  4. 3.12 Or earnestly desiring
  5. 3.16 Other ancient authorities read will twist
  6. 3.18 Other ancient authorities lack Amen