If anyone speaks, they should do it as someone who’s speaking God’s own words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength that God provides. That way God will be praised in all things through Jesus Christ. May he receive the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
When he said this, he was referring to the Holy Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus would later receive the Spirit. But at that time, the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus hadn’t been glorified yet.
The God of our fathers—of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has done this, to bring glory to his servant Jesus. But you handed Jesus over to be killed. You spoke against him when he was in Pilate’s court, even though Pilate had decided to let him go.
He did that to show for all time the riches of his grace, which can’t be compared with anything else. He demonstrated his grace by being kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
None of our faces are covered with a veil. All of us can see and contemplate the Lord’s glory. So we’re being changed to become more and more glorious like him. All this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
People who don’t believe might accuse you of doing wrong. But lead such good lives among them that they’ll see your good deeds and give glory to God on the day Jesus returns.