So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

So then, my brothers and sisters, ¹  dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life ¹  for his friends.

You are my friends ¹  if you do what I command you.

Dear friends, if God so loved us, then ¹  we also ought to love one another. ² 

But you, dear friends – recall the predictions ¹  foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ² 

But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. ¹  (1:15) Peace be with you. ²  The friends here ³  greet you. Greet the friends ⁴  there ⁵  by name.

That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, ¹  for prior to this they had been enemies. ² 

we have unanimously ¹  decided ²  to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,

Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, ¹ 

“I ¹  tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, ²  and after that have nothing more they can do.

Returning ¹  home, he calls together ²  his ³  friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’

Then ¹  when she has found it, she calls together her ²  friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice ³  with me, for I have found the coin ⁴  that I had lost.’

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, ¹  so that when it runs out you will be welcomed ²  into the eternal homes. ³ 

You will be betrayed even by parents, ¹  brothers, relatives, ²  and friends, and they will have some of you put to death.

The following day ¹  he entered Caesarea. ²  Now Cornelius was waiting anxiously ³  for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Even some of the provincial authorities ¹  who were his friends sent ²  a message ³  to him, urging him not to venture ⁴  into the theater.

He ordered the centurion ¹  to guard Paul, ²  but to let him have some freedom, ³  and not to prevent any of his friends ⁴  from meeting his needs. ⁵ 

Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, ¹  for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” ²  says the Lord.