Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

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.

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is God's child. And everyone who loves the Father loves his child.

² This is how we know we love God's children. We love God and we obey his laws.

³ We show that we love God when we obey his laws. His laws are not hard to obey.

⁴ Everyone who is God's child wins a victory over the world. We win because we believe God.

⁵ Who wins a victory over the world? It is only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

⁶ There was water and there was blood when Jesus Christ came. There was not water only, but there was water and there was blood. The Spirit proves this is true, because the Spirit is true.

⁹ `I have loved you just as my Father has loved you. So let me love you always.

¹⁰ If you obey me, I will love you always. That is what I have done. I have obeyed my Father. And he will love me always.

¹¹ `I have told you these things so that you may be glad in the same way I am glad. Then you will be very glad always.

¹² `I am telling you to love each other as I have loved you.

¹³ The strongest love anyone can have is this. He will die to save his friends.

¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I tell you to do.

¹⁵ I do not call you servants anymore, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends because you know everything that my Father has told me.

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you. I gave you a big work to do. That work is to go out and do good things and to make the good things that you do remain strong. If you do that, my Father will do anything you ask in my name.

¹⁷ `Here is the law I gave you. Love each other.'