⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”^(A)

Israel’s Rejection of the Message

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him?^(A) And how can they hear without a preacher?^(B)

¹⁸ Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.^{(A) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(B) to himself,^(C) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(D) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf,^(E) “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He made the one who did not know sin^(F) to be sin^[a] for us,^(G) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

⁴ who wants everyone^(A) to be saved^(B) and to come to the knowledge of the truth.^(C)

¹⁰ For this reason we labor and strive,^[a] because we have put our hope in the living God,^(A) who is the Savior^(B) of all people,^(C) especially of those who believe.

⁹ The Lord does not delay his promise,^(A) as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any^(B) to perish^(C) but all to come to repentance.^(D)