¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter,^[a](A) and on this rock I will build my church,^(B) and the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys^(C) of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[d] loosed in heaven.”^(D)

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

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching^(B) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread^(C) and to prayer.^{(D) 43} Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.^{(E) 44} All the believers were together and had everything in common.^{(F) 45} They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.^{(G) 46} Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.^(H) They broke bread^(I) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.^(J) And the Lord added to their number^(K) daily those who were being saved.

¹¹ Great fear^(A) seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders^(B) among the people. And all the believers used to meet together^(C) in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(D) 13} No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.^{(E) 14} Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.^(F)

²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[a](A) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,^(B) committed them to the Lord,^(C) in whom they had put their trust.

⁵ So the churches were strengthened^(A) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.^(B)

Concerning Change of Status

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.^(A) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^(B)

¹³ Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?^{(A) 14} In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.^(B)

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)

¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^(A) should be made known^(B) to the rulers and authorities^(C) in the heavenly realms,^{(D) 11} according to his eternal purpose^(E) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God^(F) with freedom and confidence.^(G)