11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, (A)distributing to each one individually just as He [a]wills.

12 For just (B)as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, (C)so also is Christ. 13 For [b](D)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether (E)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to (F)drink of one Spirit.

14 For (G)the body is not one part, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [c]any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason [d]any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has (H)arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, (I)just as He desired. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But now (J)there are many parts, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, [e]it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those parts of the body which we [f]consider less honorable, [g]on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, 25 so that there may be no [h]division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is [i]honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

27 Now you are (K)Christ’s body, and (L)individually parts of it. 28 And God has [j](M)appointed in (N)the church, first (O)apostles, second (P)prophets, third (Q)teachers, then [k](R)miracles, then (S)gifts of healings, helps, (T)administrations, and various (U)kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of [l]miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not (V)interpret, do they? 31 But (W)earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:11 Or intends
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or in
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:15 Lit not a part
  4. 1 Corinthians 12:16 Lit not a part
  5. 1 Corinthians 12:22 Lit to a much greater degree the parts
  6. 1 Corinthians 12:23 Or think to be
  7. 1 Corinthians 12:23 Or these we clothe with
  8. 1 Corinthians 12:25 Or dissension
  9. 1 Corinthians 12:26 Lit glorified
  10. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Lit set some in
  11. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Or works of power
  12. 1 Corinthians 12:29 Or works of power

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,(A) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,(B) so it is with Christ.(C) 13 For we were all baptized(D) by[a] one Spirit(E) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free(F)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.(G) 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.(H)

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed(I) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.(J) 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.(K)

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ,(L) and each one of you is a part of it.(M) 28 And God has placed in the church(N) first of all apostles,(O) second prophets,(P) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,(Q) of helping, of guidance,(R) and of different kinds of tongues.(S) 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[b]?(T) Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire(U) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or with; or in
  2. 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages

18 And when they had summoned them, they (A)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [a]in the name of Jesus. 19 But (B)Peter and John answered and said to them, “(C)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20 for (D)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) (E)on account of the people, because they were all (F)glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man on whom this [b]miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “[c]Lord, it is You who (G)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who (H)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

(I)Why were the [d]nations insolent,
And the peoples plotting in vain?
26 (J)The kings of the earth [e]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [f](K)Christ.’

27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [g](L)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (M)Herod and (N)Pontius Pilate, along with (O)the [h]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (P)purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [i]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to (Q)speak Your word with all (R)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [j](S)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy [k](T)servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the (U)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (V)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (W)speak the word of God with (X)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

32 And the [l]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them [m]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but (Y)all things were common property to them. 33 And (Z)with great power the apostles were giving (AA)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:18 Or on the basis of
  2. Acts 4:22 Or sign
  3. Acts 4:24 Or Master
  4. Acts 4:25 Or Gentiles
  5. Acts 4:26 Or approached
  6. Acts 4:26 I.e., Messiah
  7. Acts 4:27 Or Son
  8. Acts 4:27 Or nations
  9. Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
  10. Acts 4:30 I.e., confirming miracles
  11. Acts 4:30 Or Son
  12. Acts 4:32 Or community; lit multitude
  13. Acts 4:32 Lit was saying

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.(A) 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?(B) You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking(C) about what we have seen and heard.”(D)

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people(E) were praising God(F) for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.(G) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(H) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(I)

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.[a][b](J)

27 Indeed Herod(K) and Pontius Pilate(L) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(M) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(N) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(O) 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders(P) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”(Q)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.(R) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(S) and spoke the word of God(T) boldly.(U)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.(V) 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify(W) to the resurrection(X) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace(Y) was so powerfully at work in them all

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ
  2. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but (A)understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And (B)do not get drunk with wine, [a]in which there is (C)debauchery, but be (D)filled with the Spirit, 19 (E)speaking to [b]one another in (F)psalms and (G)hymns and spiritual (H)songs, (I)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 (J)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our (K)God and Father; 21 [c](L)and subject yourselves to one another in the [d](M)fear of Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:18 Or by which
  2. Ephesians 5:19 Or yourselves
  3. Ephesians 5:21 Lit being submissive to
  4. Ephesians 5:21 Or reverence for

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(A) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(B) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(C) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(D) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(E) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households(F)

21 Submit to one another(G) out of reverence for Christ.

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