³² but ^(A)I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, ^(B)strengthen your brothers.”

^18 (A)to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from ^(B)the power of Satan to God, that they may receive ^(C)forgiveness of sins and ^(D)a place among those who are sanctified ^(E)by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to ^(F)the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first ^(G)to those in Damascus, ^(H)then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also ^(I)to the Gentiles, that they should ^(J)repent and ^(K)turn to God, performing deeds ^(L)in keeping with their repentance.

Jesus and Peter

¹⁵ When they had ^(A)finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ^(B)“Simon, ^(C)son of John, ^(D)do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed ^(E)my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, ^(F)“Tend ^(G)my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him ^(H)the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, ^(I)you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed ^(J)my sheep.

⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^(A)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to ^(B)please him. ¹⁰ For ^(C)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^(D)so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Therefore, knowing ^(E)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^(F)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ^12 (G)We are not commending ourselves to you again but ^(H)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³ For if we ^(I)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(J)controls us, because we have concluded this: that ^(K)one has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵ and he died for all, ^(L)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^(M)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶ From now on, therefore, ^(N)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is ^(O)in Christ, he is ^(P)a new creation.^{[a] (Q)}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, ^(R)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(S)the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[b] the world to himself, ^(T)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^(U)the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, ^(V)we are ambassadors for Christ, ^(W)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.