Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
68 He said, `Praise the Lord God of Israel! He has remembered his people, and set them free.
69 He has chosen one from the family of his servant David. He has given him power to save us.
70 That is what he promised through his holy prophets of God long ago.
71 He said he would save us from our enemies and set us free from those who hate us.
72 `He said he would be kind to our fathers. He said he would remember his agreement with them.
73-75 That was what he promised our father Abraham he would surely do. He promised to set us free from our enemies. He promised that we should be without fear. He promised that we would worship him and be holy and good before him as long as we live.
76 `You, my child, will be called the prophet or messenger of the Highest One. You will go ahead of the Lord to make his way ready.
77 You will tell his people how to be saved by being forgiven for their wrong ways.
78 `Our God is kind. A light from heaven will shine.
79 That light will shine on those who are in darkness, and are going to die. That light will show us how to walk in peace.'
12 My brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has made more people know about the good news.
13 All the soldiers here and all the other people know that I am in prison because of Christ.
14 Because I am in prison, most of my Christian brothers are stronger for the Lord. They are strong in the faith now and they are not afraid to tell God's good news about Jesus Christ.
15 Some of them tell about Christ because they are jealous. They want to prove they are better than me. Some of them tell about Christ because they want to help me.
16 The first ones do it because they want to prove they are better than I am. They do not have a good reason. But they think they will make trouble for me while I am in prison.
17 These last ones do it because they love me. They know that I am here to speak for the good news.
18 But it does not matter. Every way, in the wrong way or in the right way, Christ is talked about. I will be glad because of that.
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