^11 (A)“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely ^(B)on my account. ^12 (C)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for ^(D)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

^23 (A)Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for ^(B)so their fathers did to the prophets.

⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, ^(A)rejoicing that they were counted worthy ^(B)to suffer dishonor for ^(C)the name.

⁷ So ^(A)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^{[a] (B)}a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^(C)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ^8 (D)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, ^(E)“My grace is sufficient for you, for ^(F)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that ^(G)the power of Christ may rest upon me. ^10 (H)For the sake of Christ, then, ^(I)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For ^(J)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (A)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[a] when you meet trials ^(B)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(C)the testing of your faith ^(D)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(E)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.