But Jesus called for the children, ¹  saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God ²  belongs to such as these. ³ 

Then ¹  Jesus ²  said to them, “I tell you the truth, ³  there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers ⁴  or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom

While the people were listening to these things, Jesus ¹  proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, ²  and because they thought ³  that the kingdom of God ⁴  was going to ⁵  appear immediately.

Thus ¹  they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, ²  and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ³ 

The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed ¹  him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save ²  himself if ³  he is the Christ ⁴  of God, his chosen one!”

He ¹  said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man ²  who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet ³  before God and all the people;

He continued, ¹  “I tell all of you the solemn truth ²  – you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” ³ 

Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, ¹  unless a person is born of water and spirit, ²  he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The one who believes in him is not condemned. ¹  The one who does not believe has been condemned ²  already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only ³  Son of God.

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects ¹  the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath ²  remains ³  on him.

I tell you the solemn truth, ¹  a time ²  is coming – and is now here – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Jesus replied, ¹  “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here. ²  I ³  have not come on my own initiative, ⁴  but he ⁵  sent me.

But these ¹  are recorded ²  so that you may believe ³  that Jesus is the Christ, ⁴  the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. ⁵ 

To the same apostles ¹  also, after his suffering, ²  he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period ³  and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.

“Men of Israel, ¹  listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, ²  wonders, and miraculous signs ³  that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know –

So then, exalted ¹  to the right hand ²  of God, and having received ³  the promise of the Holy Spirit ⁴  from the Father, he has poured out ⁵  what you both see and hear.

When ¹  they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, ²  and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak ³  the word of God ⁴  courageously. ⁵ 

The word of God continued to spread, ¹  the number of disciples in Jerusalem ²  increased greatly, and a large group ³  of priests became obedient to the faith.

But you took along the tabernacle ¹  of Moloch ²  and the star of the ³  god Rephan, ⁴  the images you made to worship, but I will deport ⁵  you beyond Babylon.’ ⁶ 

Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius ¹  replied, ²  “What is it, Lord?” The angel ³  said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity ⁴  have gone up as a memorial ⁵  before God.