¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(A)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

^10 (A)“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for ^(B)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But ^(A)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

^32 (A)“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also ^(A)for the sake of conscience.

^14 (A)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(B)Have no fear of them, ^(C)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(D)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(E)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(F)respect, ^16 (G)having a good conscience, so that, ^(H)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(I)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Encouragement to Give Generously

8 We want you to know, brothers,^[a] about the grace of God that has been ^(A)given among the churches of Macedonia,

Paul's Change of Plans

¹² For our boast is this, ^(A)the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity^[a] and ^(B)godly sincerity, ^(C)not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, ^(A)I worked harder than any of them, ^(B)though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.