Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?^(A) Am I not an apostle?^(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?^(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?^(D)

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(A) 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.”^(B)

⁷ And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying^(A)—and a true and faithful teacher^(B) of the Gentiles.^(C)

⁶ I planted the seed,^(A) Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!^(A) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”^(B)

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^(A)

1 Paul, a servant of God^(A) and an apostle^(B) of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth^(C) that leads to godliness^(D)— ² in the hope of eternal life,^(E) which God, who does not lie,^(F) promised before the beginning of time,^{(G) 3} and which now at his appointed season^(H) he has brought to light^(I) through the preaching entrusted to me^(J) by the command of God^(K) our Savior,^(L)

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(B) to win as many as possible.^(C)

¹¹ And of this gospel^(A) I was appointed^(B) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.^(C)