'This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams.

Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message.

When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts.

About that time some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch.

In the church at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (called the Black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (who had been brought up with Governor Herod ), and Saul.

And so I tell you that I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers; you will kill some of them, crucify others, and whip others in the synagogues and chase them from town to town.

For this reason the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and messengers; they will kill some of them and persecute others.'

So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have;

In the church God has put all in place: in the first place apostles, in the second place prophets, and in the third place teachers; then those who perform miracles, followed by those who are given the power to heal or to help others or to direct them or to speak in strange tongues.

They are not all apostles or prophets or teachers. Not everyone has the power to work miracles

But those who proclaim God's message speak to people and give them help, encouragement, and comfort.

Two or three who are given God's message should speak, while the others are to judge what they say.

The gift of proclaiming God's message should be under the speaker's control,

In past times human beings were not told this secret, but God has revealed it now by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.

It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.

do not despise inspired messages.

Peter made his appeal to them and with many other words he urged them, saying, "Save yourselves from the punishment coming on this wicked people!"

When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts.

They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God," they taught.

After spending some time there, he left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the believers.

He went through those regions and encouraged the people with many messages. Then he came to Achaia,

if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

You know that we treated each one of you just as parents treat their own children.

Finally, our friends, you learned from us how you should live in order to please God. This is, of course, the way you have been living. And now we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.

We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;

to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience.

In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled.

Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

or steal from them. Instead, they must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior in all they do.

That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world,

He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Christ's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you

I write you this brief letter with the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful Christian. I want to encourage you and give my testimony that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness.

Tell everyone who is discouraged, "Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies."

He is responsible for helping and defending me.

He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be faultless on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.

And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.

while we sent Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ. We sent him to strengthen you and help your faith,

But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.