₃₄Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. ₃₅Those who worship him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to. ₃₆You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ₃₇You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. ₃₈You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him. ₃₉We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. ₄₀But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, ₄₁not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. ₄₂And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. ₄₃All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name.”

₁₇The LORD says, “I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten. ₁₈Be glad and rejoice for ever in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy. ₁₉I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help. ₂₀Babies will no longer die in infancy, and all people will live out their life span. Those who live to be a hundred will be considered young. To die before that would be a sign that I had punished them. _21-22People will build houses and live in them themselves — they will not be used by someone else. They will plant vineyards and enjoy the wine — it will not be drunk by others. Like trees, my people will live long lives. They will fully enjoy the things that they have worked for. ₂₃The work they do will be successful, and their children will not meet with disaster. I will bless them and their descendants for all time to come. ₂₄Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers. ₂₅Wolves and lambs will eat together; lions will eat straw, as cattle do, and snakes will no longer be dangerous. On Zion, my sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil.”