In Damascus, the governor ¹  under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus ²  in order to arrest ³  me,

I beg you, brothers and sisters, ¹  become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

You know that everyone in the province of Asia ¹  deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

But John ¹  tried to prevent ²  him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.

Peter ¹  said to him, ²  “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”

Then his lord called the first slave ¹  and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me!

For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” ¹ 

He ¹  answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me ²  will betray me.

Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, ¹  on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing.

Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. ¹ 

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”

Now ¹  a leper ²  came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. “If ³  you are willing, you can make me clean,” he said.

He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, ¹  “You are the Christ.” ² 

He answered them, ¹  “You ²  unbelieving ³  generation! How much longer ⁴  must I be with you? How much longer must I endure ⁵  you? ⁶  Bring him to me.”

When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, ¹  “Jesus, Son of David, ²  have mercy ³  on me!”