Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus^(A) and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.^{(B) 23} For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship^(C)—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it^(D) is the Lord of heaven and earth^(E) and does not live in temples built by human hands.^{(F) 25} And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.^{(G) 26} From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.^{(H) 27} God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.^{(I) 28} ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’^[a](J) As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’^[b]

²⁹ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.^{(K) 30} In the past God overlooked^(L) such ignorance,^(M) but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.^{(N) 31} For he has set a day when he will judge^(O) the world with justice^(P) by the man he has appointed.^(Q) He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”^(R)

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?^{(A) 14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.^(B) “Do not fear their threats^[a]; do not be frightened.”^{[b](C) 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^(D) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^(E) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience,^(F) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^{(G) 17} For it is better, if it is God’s will,^(H) to suffer for doing good^(I) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(J) for sins,^(K) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(L) He was put to death in the body^(M) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(N) 19} After being made alive,^[c] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(O)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(P) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(Q) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(R) were saved^(S) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(T) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(U) toward God.^[d] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(V) 22} who has gone into heaven^(W) and is at God’s right hand^(X)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(Y)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands.^{(A) 16} And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate^(B) to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth.^(C) The world cannot accept him,^(D) because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[a] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans;^(E) I will come to you.^{(F) 19} Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.^(G) Because I live, you also will live.^{(H) 20} On that day^(I) you will realize that I am in my Father,^(J) and you are in me, and I am in you.^{(K) 21} Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.^(L) The one who loves me will be loved by my Father,^(M) and I too will love them and show myself to them.”