Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you.

and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”

Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?

that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,

but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.

For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand

The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son.

Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

“I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man!

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.

I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often intended to come to you (and was prevented until now), so that I may have some fruit even among you, just as I already have among the rest of the Gentiles.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching?