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.
37 The last day of the feast was a big day. On that day Jesus stood up and shouted, `If anyone is thirsty, he may come to me and drink.
38 If anyone believes in me, the holy writings say, "Rivers of water that give life will flow out of his heart." '
39 This is what Jesus meant: those who believe in him would receive the Spirit. At that time no one had received the Holy Spirit because Jesus had not yet been lifted up to heaven
40 When some of the people heard this they said, `Truly, this is the Prophet.'
41 Other people said, `This is the Christ.' But some said, `The Christ will not come from Galilee. Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Do not the holy writings say that Christ will be of David's family? Will he not come from Bethlehem where David lived?'
43 The people did not all say the same thing about him.
44 Some of them wanted to catch Jesus, but no one put hands on him.
45 The soldiers came back to the chief priests and the Pharisees. They asked the soldiers, `Why did you not bring him?'
46 The soldiers replied, `No person has ever talked like he does!'
47 The Pharisees said, `Has he fooled you also?
48 None of the rulers and none of the Pharisees have believed on him, have they?
49 These poor people do not know the law. They will die!'
50 Nicodemus, the man who came to Jesus by night, was one of them.
51 He said, `Is it right to judge any man by our law before we hear him and learn what he has done?'
52 They answered him, `Are you from Galilee also? Study what is written. You will see that no prophet is to come from Galilee.'
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