⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait^(A) for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.^{(B) 5} For John baptized with^[a] water,^(C) but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(D)

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore^(E) the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.^{(F) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;^(G) and you will be my witnesses^(H) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,^(I) and to the ends of the earth.”^(J)

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness^(A) to those who are perishing,^(B) but to us who are being saved^(C) it is the power of God.^{(D) 19} For it is written:

²⁰ Where is the wise person?^(F) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?^(G) Has not God made foolish^(H) the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(I) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(J) those who believe.^{(K) 22} Jews demand signs^(L) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(M) a stumbling block^(N) to Jews and foolishness^(O) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(P) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(Q) and the wisdom of God.^{(R) 25} For the foolishness^(S) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(T) of God is stronger than human strength.

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^{(A) 15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^(B) but for him who died for them^(C) and was raised again.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly^(D) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^(E) the new creation^(F) has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!^{(G) 18} All this is from God,^(H) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(I) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(J) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(K) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(L) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(M) 21} God made him who had no sin^(N) to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(O)