¹⁸ Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.^{(A) 19} Go, therefore, and make disciples^(B) of^[a] all nations,^(C) baptizing^(D) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,^[b] I am with you always,^[c] to the end of the age.”^(E)

A Generous and Growing Church

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,^(A) to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.^(B)

⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.^{(C) 44} Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.^{(D) 45} They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,^{(E) 47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number^[a] those who were being saved.^(F)

⁵ in the same way we who are many^(A) are one body in Christ^(B) and individually members of one another.

¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(A) growing into maturity with a stature^(B) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(C) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head^(D)—Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(E) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(F) of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.