¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”^(A)

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,^(B) but by my Father in heaven.^{(C) 18} And I tell you that you are Peter,^[a](D) and on this rock I will build my church,^(E) and the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it.

³² God has raised this Jesus to life,^(A) and we are all witnesses^(B) of it. ³³ Exalted^(C) to the right hand of God,^(D) he has received from the Father^(E) the promised Holy Spirit^(F) and has poured out^(G) what you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

³⁶ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord^(I) and Messiah.”^(J)

³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”^(K)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,^(L) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(M) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^{(N) 39} The promise is for you and your children^(O) and for all who are far off^(P)—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”^{(Q) 41} Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number^(R) that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching^(S) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread^(T) and to prayer.^{(U) 43} Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.^{(V) 44} All the believers were together and had everything in common.^{(W) 45} They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.^{(X) 46} Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.^(Y) They broke bread^(Z) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.^(AA) And the Lord added to their number^(AB) daily those who were being saved.

⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(A) and each member belongs to all the others.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,^(A) so it is with Christ.^{(B) 13} For we were all baptized^(C) by^[a] one Spirit^(D) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(E)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^{(F) 14} Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.^(G)

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed^(H) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.^{(I) 19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.^(J)

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(K) and each one of you is a part of it.^(L)

²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(A) and seated him at his right hand^(B) in the heavenly realms,^{(C) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(D) and every name^(E) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(F) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(G) and appointed him to be head^(H) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(I) the fullness of him^(J) who fills everything in every way.^(K)

³ Make every effort to keep the unity^(A) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^{(B) 4} There is one body^(C) and one Spirit,^(D) just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(E); ⁵ one Lord,^(F) one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all,^(G) who is over all and through all and in all.^(H)

⁷ But to each one of us^(I) grace^(J) has been given^(K) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended^(N) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^(O)

¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love,^(A) which binds them all together in perfect unity.^(B)

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ^(C) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body^(D) you were called to peace.^(E) And be thankful.