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

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.

^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.

³ So, ^(A)being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(B)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and ^(C)brought great joy to all ^(D)the brothers.^[a]

¹⁰ and said, “You ^(A)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and ^(B)villainy, will you not stop ^(C)making crooked ^(D)the straight paths of the Lord?

¹⁹ and ^(A)taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For ^(B)some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰ And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ^(C)“He is the Son of God.” ²¹ And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who ^(D)made havoc ^(E)in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” ²² But Saul ^(F)increased all the more in strength, and ^(G)confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ^(H)that Jesus was the Christ.

^19 (A)Repent therefore, and ^(B)turn back, that ^(C)your sins may be blotted out,

³⁸ And Peter said to them, ^(A)“Repent and ^(B)be baptized every one of you ^(C)in the name of Jesus Christ ^(D)for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive ^(E)the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For ^(F)the promise is for you and ^(G)for your children and for all ^(H)who are far off, everyone ^(I)whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ^(J)“Save yourselves from this ^(K)crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and ^(L)there were added that day about three thousand souls.