¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”^(A)

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.^{(B) 6} Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit.^{(C) 7} You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’

⁵ For John baptized with^[a] water,^(A) but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(B)

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore^(C) the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.^{(D) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;^(E) and you will be my witnesses^(F) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,^(G) and to the ends of the earth.”^(H)

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”^(A)

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

³ All of us also lived among them at one time,^(A) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](B) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(C) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(D)—it is by grace you have been saved.^(E)

⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(A) into our hearts,^(B) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[a] Father.”^(C)

²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(A) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(B) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(C) nor is there male and female,^(D) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(E) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(F) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(G) and heirs^(H) according to the promise.^(I)

²² But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(A) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[a](A) through the shedding of his blood^(B)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(C)—