When, therefore, they dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonas, dost thou love me more than these?' he saith to him, 'Yes, Lord; thou hast known that I dearly love thee;' he saith to him, 'Feed my lambs.'

Then, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, being built up, and, going on in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

who, having come, and having seen the grace of God, was glad, and was exhorting all with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord,

confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting to remain in the faith, and that through many tribulations it behoveth us to enter into the reign of God,

'Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,

And I am persuaded, my brethren -- I myself also -- concerning you, that ye yourselves also are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, able also one another to admonish;

And to each hath been given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit;

Having, then, these promises, beloved, may we cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God;

and of this being persuaded, I have known that I shall remain and continue with you all, to your advancement and joy of the faith,

Not that I did already obtain, or have been already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by the Christ Jesus;

whom we proclaim, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,

wherefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.

Wherefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Christ, unto the perfection we may advance, not again a foundation laying of reformation from dead works, and of faith on God,

Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account, that with joy they may do this, and not sighing, for this is unprofitable to you.

The work

because he was numbered among us, and did receive the share in this ministration,

but I make account of none of these, neither do I count my life precious to myself, so that I finish my course with joy, and the ministration that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the good news of the grace of God.

or ministration -- 'In the ministration!' or he who is teaching -- 'In the teaching!'

Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory?

Because of this, having this ministration, according as we did receive kindness, we do not faint,

And the all things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and did give to us the ministration of the reconciliation,

in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,

and say to Archippus, 'See to the ministration that thou didst receive in the Lord, that thou mayest fulfil it.'

And I give thanks to him who enabled me -- Christ Jesus our Lord -- that he did reckon me stedfast, having put me to the ministration,

And thou -- watch in all things; suffer evil; do the work of one proclaiming good news; of thy ministration make full assurance,

The edifying

from whom the whole body, being fitly joined together and united, through the supply of every joint, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body doth make for the building up of itself in love.

So, then, the things of peace may we pursue, and the things of building up one another;

for let each one of us please the neighbour for good, unto edification,

he who is speaking in an unknown tongue, himself doth edify, and he who is prophesying, an assembly doth edify;

Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, are for your up-building,

wherefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.

The body

one body and one Spirit, according as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

which is his body, the fulness of Him who is filling the all in all,

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly,

General references

and a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, because they have not known the voice of strangers.'

And to each hath been given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit;

prophesyings despise not;