² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^{(A) 3} You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,^(B) not on tablets of stone^(C) but on tablets of human hearts.^(D)

⁴ Such confidence^(E) we have through Christ before God.

⁷ So the word of God spread.^(A) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,^(B) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.