Book of Common Prayer

Things Are Turning Out For The Good of The Gospel

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers, that the things concerning me have come rather for the advancement of the good-news—

The Brothers Are More Fearlessly Speaking The Word

¹³ ... so that my imprisonment in^[a] Christ became visible^[b] in the whole Praetorium^[c] and to all the rest, ¹⁴ and so that the majority of the brothers, being confident^[d] in the Lord because-of my imprisonment, are more daring to fearlessly speak the word.

Whatever Their Motives, Christ Is Being Proclaimed

¹⁵ Some indeed speak because of envy and strife, but some also are proclaiming Christ because of good-will. ¹⁶ The ones speak out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the good-news; ¹⁷ but the others are proclaiming Christ out of selfish-interest, not purely, supposing to raise trouble in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What indeed does it matter except that^[e] in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed!

Christ Will Be Magnified In Me, Whether I Live or Die

And I am rejoicing in this. But I also will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn-out for me for deliverance through your prayer and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ in-accordance-with my eager-expectation and hope that I will in no way be put-to-shame, but that with all boldness, as always, even now Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death— ²¹ for to me, the living is Christ, and the dying^[f] is gain.

Death Would Be Much Better For Me, But I Know I Will Continue To Live For Your Sake

²² Now if it is the living in the flesh, this for me means fruit from work. And I do not know^[g] what I shall choose, ²³ but am gripped^[h] by the two— having the desire that I might depart and be with Christ, for that is better by much more, ²⁴ but the remaining in the flesh is more-necessary for your sake. ²⁵ And being confident-of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your advancement and joy of faith, ²⁶ in order that your boast may be abounding in Christ Jesus in me through my presence again with you.

But Conduct Yourselves Worthily of The Gospel, And Don’t Be Frightened

²⁷ Only be conducting-yourselves^[i] worthily of the good-news of Christ in order that whether having come and seen you or being absent, I may be hearing-of the things concerning you— that you are standing-firm in one spirit, contending-together with one soul for the faith of the good-news, ²⁸ and not being frightened^[j] in any way by the ones opposing you— which is a sign^[k] of destruction for them, but of your salvation, and this from God.

God Has Granted That We Should Both Believe In Christ And Suffer For Him

²⁹ Because to you was granted the thing^[l] for Christ’s sake— not only the believing in Him, but also the suffering for His sake, ³⁰ having the same struggle^[m] such as you saw in me and now are hearing to be in me.

Jesus Rises From The Dead. The Women Find The Tomb Empty

16 And the Sabbath having passed^[a], Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices in order that having come, they might anoint Him. ² And very early-in-the-morning on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb— the sun having risen. ³ And they were saying to themselves, “Who will roll-away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” ⁴ And having looked-up, they see that the stone has been rolled-away. For it was extremely large. ⁵ And having entered into the tomb, they saw a young-man sitting at the right, having been clothed-with a white robe. And they were alarmed. ⁶ But the one says to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are seeking Jesus from-Nazareth, the One having been crucified. He arose, He is not here. Look— the place where they laid Him! ⁷ But go, tell His disciples and Peter that ‘He is going-ahead-of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you’”. ⁸ And having gone out, they fled from the tomb. For trembling and astonishment was holding them. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were fearing.

[Most Greek manuscripts have this “Long^[b] Ending” after verse 8, but two of the oldest omit it].

Jesus Appears To Mary, Then To Two In The Country, Then To The Eleven

⁹ And [Jesus] having risen-up early-in-the-morning on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary the Magdalene, from whom He had cast-out seven demons. ¹⁰ That one, having gone, reported it to the ones having been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ And-those-ones, having heard that He was alive and was seen by her, did not-believe^[c] her. ¹² And after these things, He appeared in a different form to two of them walking, while they were proceeding into the country. ¹³ And those ones, having gone, reported it to the rest. They did not even believe those ones. ¹⁴ And later He appeared to the eleven themselves while they were reclining-back [to eat]. And He reproached^[d] their unbelief and hardness-of-heart because they did not believe the ones having seen Him arisen.

Jesus Commissions His Followers To Proclaim The Gospel To All Creation

¹⁵ And He said to them, “Having gone into all the world, proclaim the good-news to^[e] all creation. ¹⁶ The one having believed and having been baptized will be saved. But the one having not-believed will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany^[f] the ones having believed: in My name they will cast-out demons, they will speak in^[g] new tongues^[h], ¹⁸ and they will pick up snakes^[i] with their hands. And if they drink any deadly thing, it will by-no-means^[j] hurt^[k] them. They will lay hands on sick ones, and they will be well”.

Jesus Is Taken Up Into Heaven

¹⁹ So indeed the Lord Jesus, after He spoke to them, was taken-up into heaven and sat-down on the right side of God. ²⁰ And those ones, having gone-forth, proclaimed it everywhere, the Lord working-with them and confirming^[l] the word by the signs following-after^[m] them.

[A few Greek manuscripts have this “Short^[n] Ending” after verse 8, followed by the “long ending” above]

And they promptly reported all the things having been commanded them to the ones around Peter. And after these things, Jesus Himself also sent-forth the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation through them, from the east and as-far-as the west. Amen.