Book of Common Prayer

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak, `I really understand now. God does not love some people more than others.

³⁵ But he takes anyone who obeys him. He takes anyone who does what is right. It does not matter to what nation they belong.

³⁶ To the people of Israel God has sent the good news. He gives peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all!

³⁷ You yourselves know the story of what happened all through Judea. It started in Galilee after the baptism which John talked about.

³⁸ God gave Jesus of Nazareth the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went about doing good deeds. He healed all those who were held by the devil. God was with him.

³⁹ We saw all the things which he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And they hung him on a piece of wood and killed him.

⁴⁰ On the third day, God raised him up to let people see him.

⁴¹ Not all the people saw him. But God had chosen us to see and to talk about him. We saw him. We ate and drank with him after he rose from death.

⁴² He told us to tell the people that God chose him to judge both the living people and the dead people.

⁴³ All the prophets tell about him. They say, "Everyone who believes in him will have his wrong ways forgiven through his name." '

⁴⁴ While Peter was saying this, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the message.

⁴⁵ The believers who came with Peter were Jews. They were very much surprised that the Holy Spirit was also sent to those who were not Jews. 46,

^46-47 hey heard them speak in tongues of other languages and praise God. Then Peter said, `These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. Can anyone say they may not be baptised in water?'

⁴⁸ So he said they were to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. They begged him to stay with them for a while.

1 This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God's Son.

² The men of God, called prophets, long ago wrote about it this way: God said, `See, I send my man ahead of you to tell about you. He will make the way ready for you.

³ A man is calling out in the desert, "Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for him." '

⁴ John baptised people in the desert. He told them to stop doing wrong things and be baptised, and God would forgive them for the wrong things they did.

⁵ People from all the land of Judea and all the city of Jerusalem went out to John. He baptised them in the Jordan River when they told about the wrong things they did.

⁶ John wore clothes made of camel's hair and a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷ He told the people, `Another person is coming. He is greater than I am. I am not good enough to bend down and untie his shoe strings.

⁸ I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'

⁹ At that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee. John baptised him in the Jordan River.

¹⁰ As soon as he came up out of the water, Jesus saw the sky open. He saw God's Holy Spirit come down on him like a bird called a dove.

¹¹ A voice from the sky said, `You are my dear Son. I am very pleased with you.'

¹² Right away, the Spirit made Jesus go into the desert.

¹³ Jesus was in the desert for forty days. All that time Satan tried to make Jesus do wrong. Jesus was with wild animals. Angels came and took care of him.