¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.^(A)

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.^(A)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,^(A) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(B) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^(C)

¹⁶ And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized^(A) and wash your sins away,^(B) calling on his name.’^(C)

² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(A)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[a]”^(B)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(C)

¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will,^(A) to suffer for doing good^(B) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(C) for sins,^(D) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(E) He was put to death in the body^(F) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(G) 19} After being made alive,^[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(H)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(I) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(J) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(K) were saved^(L) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(M) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(N) toward God.^[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(O) 22} who has gone into heaven^(P) and is at God’s right hand^(Q)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(R)

The Baptism of Jesus^(A)

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.^{(B) 14} But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,^(A) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,^(B)