The Persecuted Church

⁸ “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says ^(A)the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

¹⁷ And ^(A)when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But ^(B)He laid His right hand on me, saying ^[a]to me, “Do not be afraid; ^(C)I am the First and the Last.

^18 (A)I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, ^(B)I am alive forevermore. Amen. And ^(C)I have the keys of ^[a]Hades and of Death.

⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

⁶ He is not here; for He is risen, ^(A)as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.