Psalm 57:6-11

New International Version

⁶They spread a net for my feet^(A)—
I was bowed down^(B) in distress.
They dug a pit^(C) in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.^(D)

⁷My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;^(E)
    I will sing and make music.
⁸Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!^(F)
    I will awaken the dawn.

⁹I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.^(G)

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;^(H)
let your glory be over all the earth.^(I)

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Acts 15:22-31

New International Version

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²²Then the apostles and elders,^(A) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch^(B) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,^(C) men who were leaders among the believers. ²³With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,^(D) Syria^(E) and Cilicia:^(F)

Greetings.^(G)

²⁴We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.^(H) ²⁵So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— ²⁶men who have risked their lives^(I) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas^(J) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. ²⁸It seemed good to the Holy Spirit^(K) and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.^(L) You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

³⁰So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. ³¹The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.

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John 15:12-17

New International Version

¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.^(A) ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.^(B) ¹⁴You are my friends^(C) if you do what I command.^(D) ¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.^(E) ¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(F) so that you might go and bear fruit^(G)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^(H) ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.^(I)