Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁶ When they had come together, the apostles asked Jesus, `Lord, are you now going to set up the kingdom of Israel?'

⁷ He answered them, `You will not know the days or the months which the Father has chosen.

⁸ But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power. You will speak of me in Jerusalem and all around in Judea and Samaria and everywhere in the world.'

⁹ When Jesus had said this, he went up. They watched him going. Then a cloud hid him, and they did not see him any more.

¹⁰ While they were looking at the sky as he went up, two men stood by them in white clothes.

¹¹ They said, `You men from Galilee, why do you stand there looking at the sky? Jesus has gone up into heaven. In the same way that you saw him go up, he will come again.'

¹² Then they left the hill called the Mount of Olives. They went back to Jerusalem which was not far away. (It was how far the law said people may walk on the Sabbath day.)

¹³ When they reached Jerusalem, they went to a room up in a house. Here lived Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon the freedom fighter, and Judas the son of James.

¹⁴ All of these people were talking to God. The women, Jesus' mother Mary, and Jesus' brothers were there talking to God also.

¹² My dear brothers, do not be surprised by the hard trouble like fire that comes to test you. Do not think some new thing is happening to you.

¹³ Be glad when you suffer as Christ did. Then you will also be very glad when he comes and you see how great he is.

¹⁴ Do men say wrong things about you because you are a Christian? Then you are blessed because the wonderful Spirit, the Spirit of God, is with you.

⁶ You are under God's power. Do not be proud, so that at the right time he may put you into a higher place.

⁷ Turn all your troubles over to him, because he cares for you and is watching over you.

⁸ Keep awake! Watch! Your enemy the devil is walking around like a growling lion. He is looking for someone to catch.

⁹ Fight against the devil. Be strong because you believe. Remember that your brothers all over the world suffer the same kind of trouble as you.

¹⁰ God gives all blessings. He has called you through Christ to be great with him for ever. When you have suffered for a short time, he will make you all right. He will make you strong and steady.

¹¹ He has power for ever. Yes, he has!

17 When Jesus had said these things, he looked up to heaven and said, `Father, the time has come now. Make your Son's name great, so that your Son may make your name great.

² You have given your Son power over all people. So all those you have given him will live for ever.

³ You are the only true God. If they know you, and Jesus Christ whom you sent, they will live for ever.

⁴ I made your name great on earth. I have done the work you gave me to do.

⁵ So now, Father, let my name be great with you. Make my name as great as it was when I was with you before the world was made.

⁶ `I have shown these men who you really are. They are men whom you gave me from the world. They belonged to you and you gave them to me. They have obeyed you.

⁷ Now they really know that everything you gave me comes from you.

⁸ I have told them the things that you told me to tell them. And they have believed my words. They know it is true that I was with you before I came. They have believed that you sent me.

⁹ It is these men I am asking you for. I am not asking you for the people of the world. But I am asking for those you gave me, because they belong to you.

¹⁰ All those I have are yours. And all you have are mine. And they make my name great.

¹¹ `I am not in the world any longer. But they are in the world. And I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me. Then they will be one, just as you and I are one.