For (A)I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because (B)I persecuted the church of God.

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For I am the least of the apostles(A) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted(B) the church of God.(C)

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Concern for the Corinthian Church

11 (A)I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was (B)not at all inferior to these super-apostles, (C)even though I am nothing.

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Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

11 I have made a fool of myself,(A) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”[a](B) even though I am nothing.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 12:11 Or the most eminent apostles

But (A)Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he (B)dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

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But Saul(A) began to destroy the church.(B) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

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13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, (A)persecutor, and insolent opponent. But (B)I received mercy (C)because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and (D)the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the (E)faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is (F)trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus (G)came into the world to save sinners, (H)of whom I am the foremost.

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13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor(A) and a violent man, I was shown mercy(B) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.(C) 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,(D) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(E)

15 Here is a trustworthy saying(F) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners(G)—of whom I am the worst.

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(A)Of this gospel I was made (B)a minister according to the gift of (C)God's grace, which was given me (D)by the working of his power. To me, (E)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, (F)to preach to the Gentiles the (G)unsearchable (H)riches of Christ,

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I became a servant of this gospel(A) by the gift of God’s grace given me(B) through the working of his power.(C) Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,(D) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles(E) the boundless riches of Christ,(F)

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(A)“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of (B)Jesus of Nazareth. 10 (C)And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority (D)from the chief priests, but (E)when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And (F)I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them (G)blaspheme, and (H)in raging fury against them I (I)persecuted them even to foreign cities.

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“I too was convinced(A) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose(B) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(C) 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people(D) in prison,(E) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.(F) 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,(G) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

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23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

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23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith(A) he once tried to destroy.”(B)

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(A)as to zeal, (B)a persecutor of the church; (C)as to righteousness under the law,[a] blameless.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 3:6 Greek in the law

as for zeal,(A) persecuting the church;(B) as for righteousness based on the law,(C) faultless.

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13 For you have heard of (A)my former life in Judaism, how (B)I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

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13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,(A) how intensely I persecuted the church of God(B) and tried to destroy it.(C)

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Indeed, I consider that (A)I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.

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I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:5 Or to the most eminent apostles

(A)I persecuted (B)this Way (C)to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as (D)the high priest and (E)the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to (F)the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

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I persecuted(A) the followers of this Way(B) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(C) as the high priest and all the Council(D) can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates(E) in Damascus,(F) and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

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The Conversion of Saul

But Saul, (A)still (B)breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to (C)the high priest and asked him for letters (D)to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to (E)the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (F)Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting (G)me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, (H)whom you are persecuting. But (I)rise and enter the city, and you will be told (J)what you are to do.” (K)The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, (L)hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, (M)he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named (N)Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, (O)“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man (P)of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and (Q)lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (R)how much evil he has done to (S)your (T)saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from (U)the chief priests to bind all who (V)call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (W)he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name (X)before the Gentiles and (Y)kings and the children of Israel. 16 For (Z)I will show him how much (AA)he must suffer (AB)for the sake of my name.” 17 So (AC)Ananias departed and entered the house. And (AD)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and (AE)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and (AF)he regained his sight. Then (AG)he rose and was baptized; 19 and (AH)taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For (AI)some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

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Saul’s Conversion(A)

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(B) He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(E) He fell to the ground and heard a voice(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(G)

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(H) but did not see anyone.(I) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,(K) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus(L) named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on(M) him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people(N) in Jerusalem.(O) 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”(Q)

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles(S) and their kings(T) and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”(U)

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on(V) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(W) 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,(X) 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples(Y) in Damascus.(Z)

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