Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle
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I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
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What I speak, x I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
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Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
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For you put up with fools gladly, y since you yourselves are wise!
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For you put up with it z if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
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To our shame a I say that we were too weak for that! But b in whatever anyone is bold - I speak foolishly - I am bold also.
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Are they c Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
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Are they ministers of Christ? - I speak as a fool - I am more: d in labors more abundant, e in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, f in deaths often.
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From the Jews five times I received g forty h stripes minus one.
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Three times I was i beaten with rods; j once I was stoned; three times I k was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
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in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, l in perils of my own countrymen, m in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
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in weariness and toil, n in sleeplessness often, o in hunger and thirst, in p fastings often, in cold and nakedness -
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besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: q my deep concern for all the churches.
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r Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
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If I must boast, s I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
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t The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, u who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
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v In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
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but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:6
But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:10
We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 1:24
Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
Galatians 2:4
And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage).
Galatians 4:3
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
Galatians 4:9
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:10
"For his letters," they say, " are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."
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Cross References
Philippians 3:4
Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
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Cross References
Acts 22:3
I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Romans 11:1
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Philippians 3:4 - 6
Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
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Cross References
Acts 9:16
"For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:30
And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 25:3
Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 6:5
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings.
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Cross References
Acts 16:22
Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
Acts 16:23
And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
Acts 21:32
He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
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Cross References
Acts 14:5
And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them.
Acts 14:19
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
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Cross References
Acts 27:1 - 44
And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.
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Cross References
Acts 9:23
Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted...
Acts 9:24
But their plot became known to Saul. And they w...
Acts 13:45
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were...
Acts 13:50
But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominen...
Acts 17:5
But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming e...
Acts 17:13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned tha...
1 Thessalonians 2:15
Who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own pr...
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Cross References
Acts 14:5
And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them.
Acts 14:19
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
Acts 19:23
And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.
Acts 27:42
And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
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Cross References
Acts 20:31
Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:11
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
Philippians 4:12
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
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Cross References
Acts 9:9
And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
Acts 13:3
Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 14:23
So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
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Cross References
Acts 20:18
And when they had come to him, he said to them:...
Romans 1:14
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians,...
2 Corinthians 7:12
Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not d...
2 Corinthians 12:20
For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find ...
Galatians 4:11
I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for yo...
1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day praying exceedingly that we may s...
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 8:9
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:5
Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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Cross References
Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.
Galatians 1:20
(Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
1 Thessalonians 2:5
For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness - God is witness.
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Cross References
Romans 9:5
Of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
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Cross References
Acts 9:19 - 25
So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.