The Fulfillment of the Law

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.^{(A) 18} For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.^(B)

²⁹ Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures^(A) or the power of God.

³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(A)

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:^(A) Everything must be fulfilled^(B) that is written about me in the Law of Moses,^(C) the Prophets^(D) and the Psalms.”^(E)

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer^(F) and rise from the dead on the third day,^(G)

³⁹ You study^[a] the Scriptures^(A) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.^(B) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,^(C)

¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth,^(A) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.^(B) He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine.^(C) That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

²² “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth^(H) was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,^(I) which God did among you through him,^(J) as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge;^(K) and you, with the help of wicked men,^[b] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.^{(L) 24} But God raised him from the dead,^(M) freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.^{(N) 25} David said about him:

²⁹ “Fellow Israelites,^(Q) I can tell you confidently that the patriarch^(R) David died and was buried,^(S) and his tomb is here^(T) to this day. ³⁰ But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.^{(U) 31} Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.^{(V) 32} God has raised this Jesus to life,^(W) and we are all witnesses^(X) of it. ³³ Exalted^(Y) to the right hand of God,^(Z) he has received from the Father^(AA) the promised Holy Spirit^(AB) and has poured out^(AC) 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^(AE) and Messiah.”^(AF)

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?”^(AG)

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

The Fellowship of the Believers

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

¹¹ Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,^(A) for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures^(B) every day to see if what Paul said was true.^(C)