Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Paul Proclaims To Them The Creator-God And What He Wants From Mankind
22 And Paul, having been stood in the midst of the Areopagus, said, “Men, Athenians, I see how you are very-religious in all respects. 23 For while going-about and looking-carefully-at[a] your objects-of-worship, I also found an altar in which it had been inscribed, ‘To a not-known god’. Therefore what you are worshiping while not-knowing, this I am proclaiming to you: 24 God, the One having made the world and all the things in it— this One, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made-by-human-hands. 25 Nor is He served by human hands, [as if] being-in-need of something[b]— He Himself giving life and breath and all things to all people. 26 And He made from one man every nation of mankind, that they should dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the times[c] having been appointed[d] for them and the boundaries of their dwelling-places[e]; 27 that they should seek God— if perhaps indeed they might grope-for[f] Him and find Him, though indeed He being not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist, as also some of your poets[g] have said— ‘For we are indeed the One’s offspring[h]’. 29 Being then offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone— a work of human craft and thought. 30 So indeed, having overlooked[i] the times of ignorance, God, as to the present things, is commanding people that everyone everywhere should repent. 31 Because He set a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man Whom He designated, having granted[j] a proof [k] to everyone— having raised Him up from the dead”.
You Are Blessed If You Suffer For Righteousness
13 And who is the one who will do you evil[a] if you become zealots[b] for good? 14 But even though you might be suffering[c] for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed[d] ones!
Make Christ Lord In Your Heart As You Suffer For Doing Good
But do not fear their fear[e], nor be disturbed, 15 but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, being ready always for a defense to everyone asking you a reason for the hope in you, 16 but with gentleness and fear[f], having a good conscience in order that in what you are spoken-against[g], the ones maligning your good conduct in Christ may be put-to-shame. 17 For it is better to be suffering while doing-good, if the will of God should [so] will it, than while doing-evil.
Because Christ Himself Suffered To Bring Us To God, And Is Now Glorified By God
18 Because Christ also suffered once-for-all for sins— a righteous One for unrighteous ones— in order that He might bring you to God, having been put-to-death in the flesh but made-alive[h] by the Spirit[i],
19 ... by Whom[j] also[k] having gone, He proclaimed[l] to the spirits[m] in prison— 20 ones having disobeyed formerly when the patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared,
... in which a few (that is, eight souls) were brought-safely through the water,
21 ... which[n] also as to you a corresponding-thing[o] now saves— baptism (not a putting-off [p] of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal[q] to God for[r] a good conscience) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 ... Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to Him.
15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will request the Father, and He will give you another Helper[a] to be with[b] you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, Whom the world is not able to receive because it does not see nor know Him. You know Him because He abides with[c] you, and will be in[d] you.
You Will See Me Again. And I Will Reveal Myself To Those Who Love Me
18 “I will not leave you as orphans. I am going to come to you. 19 A little longer, and the world is no longer going to see Me, but you are going to see Me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day, you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 The one having My commandments and keeping them— that one is the one loving[e] Me. And the one loving Me will be loved by My Father. And I will love him and reveal Myself to him”.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing