²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: ^(A)my deep concern for all the churches.

Live as You Are Called

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And ^(A)so I ^[a]ordain in all the churches.

¹⁶ that ^(A)I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the ^(B)offering ^[a]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, ^(A)from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me ^(B)by the plotting of the Jews; ²⁰ how ^(C)I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, ^21 (D)testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, ^(E)repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ²² And see, now ^(F)I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ²³ except that ^(G)the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ^24 [a]But ^(H)none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, ^(I)so that I may finish my ^[b]race with joy, ^(J)and the ministry ^(K)which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am ^(L)innocent^[c] of the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not ^[d]shunned to declare to you ^(M)the whole counsel of God. ^28 (N)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit ^(O)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church ^[e]of God ^(P)which He purchased ^(Q)with His own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure ^(R)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also ^(S)from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking ^[f]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember that ^(T)for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

³² “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and ^(U)to the word of His grace, which is able ^(V)to build you up and give you ^(W)an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ^34 [g]Yes, you yourselves know ^(X)that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. ³⁵ I have shown you in every way, ^(Y)by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Not Philosophy but Christ

2 For I want you to know what a great ^(A)conflict^[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

⁴ who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as ^(A)I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

² Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to ^(A)Greece

²³ After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of ^(A)Galatia and Phrygia ^[a]in order, ^(B)strengthening all the disciples.