Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah^(A)

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;^(B) others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”^(C)

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

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

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

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

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?”^(C)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,^(D) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(E) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^{(F) 39} The promise is for you and your children^(G) and for all who are far off^(H)—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.”^{(I) 41} Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number^(J) that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

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

²² And God placed all things under his feet^(A) and appointed him to be head^(B) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(C) the fullness of him^(D) who fills everything in every way.^(E)

¹⁸ For through him we both have access^(A) to the Father^(B) by one Spirit.^(C)

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(D) but fellow citizens^(E) with God’s people and also members of his household,^{(F) 20} built^(G) on the foundation^(H) of the apostles and prophets,^(I) with Christ Jesus himself^(J) as the chief cornerstone.^{(K) 21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(L) in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(M)

¹⁴ However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors^(A) as a follower of the Way,^(B) which they call a sect.^(C) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,^{(D) 15} and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection^(E) of both the righteous and the wicked.^{(F) 16} So I strive always to keep my conscience clear^(G) before God and man.

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(A) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(B) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(C) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(D) We will not all sleep,^(E) but we will all be changed^(F)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(G) the dead^(H) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(I) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(J) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[a](K)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(M) and the power of sin is the law.^{(N) 57} But thanks be to God!^(O) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(P)

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(A) about those who sleep in death,^(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(C) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(E) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(I) and with the trumpet call of God,^(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(K) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(N) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(O) with these words.

⁵ All this is evidence^(A) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy^(B) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. ⁶ God is just:^(C) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^{(D) 7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(E) in blazing fire^(F) with his powerful angels.^{(G) 8} He will punish^(H) those who do not know God^(I) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(J) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(K) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(L) and from the glory of his might^(M)

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,^(A) you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^{(B) 29} And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife^[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.^{(C) 30} But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.^(D)