Book of Common Prayer

¹³ Moreover, who is it that will harm you if you follow that which is good? ¹⁴ Notwithstanding, happy are you if you suffer for righteousness’ sake. Yea, and fear not, though men seem terrible to you, neither be troubled, ¹⁵ but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. 

Be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you – and that with meekness and fear, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that when they backbite you as evildoers, they may be ashamed, seeing they have falsely accused your good living in Christ.

¹⁷ It is better (if the will of God be so) that you suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God; and was killed as concerning the flesh, but was quickened to life in the Spirit. ¹⁹ In which Spirit he also went and preached to the spirits who were in prison, ²⁰ who were in time past disobedient, when the longsuffering of God abode exceeding patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, that is to say, eight souls, were saved by water. ²¹ This signifies the baptism that now saves us – not the removal of soil from the flesh, but in that a good conscience consents to God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who is on the right hand of God, and has gone into heaven, angels, power, and might subdued to him.

He exhorts people to cease from sin, to spend no more time in vice, to be sober, to be fit and ready to pray, to love each other, and to be patient in trouble – and to beware that no one suffer as an evil-doer, but only as Christian; and not to be ashamed.

4 Inasmuch as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he who suffers in the flesh, ceases from sin, ² that he henceforward should live as much time as remains in the flesh, not after the lusts or desires of men, but after the will of God. ³ For it is enough for us that we have spent the time that is past of our life after the will of the Gentiles, walking in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness; in eating, drinking, and in abominable idolatry.

⁴ And it seems to them a strange thing that you run not also with them to the same excess of disorder, and therefore they speak evil of you. ⁵ But they will give accounts to him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ⁶ For to this purpose was the gospel preached to the dead: that they should be judged like other men in the flesh, but should live before God in the spirit.

Consolation for trouble. Prayers are heard through Christ.

16 These things I have said to you so that you are not made to stumble. ² They will excommunicate you; yea, the time shall come that whoever kills you will think that he does God service. ³ And such things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me. ⁴ But I have told you these things so that when that hour comes, you may remember them, that I told you so. 

I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was present with you. ⁵ But now I go my way to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, Where are you going? ⁶ But because I have said such things to you, your hearts are full of sorrow. ⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe on me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you will see me no more; ¹¹ and of judgment, because the chief ruler of this world is judged already.

¹² I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot receive them now. ¹³ However, when he is come (I mean the Spirit of truth), he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak of himself, but whatever he hears, that he will speak, and he will show you things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will receive of mine and will show it to you. ¹⁵ All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said to you that he will take of mine and show it to you.