¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death;^(A) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?^(B)

³⁹ Jesus said,^[a] “For judgment^(A) I have come into this world,^(B) so that the blind will see^(C) and those who see will become blind.”^(D)

³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:^(A) “This child is destined to cause the falling^(B) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves^(A) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^{(B) 6} He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(C)—not of the letter^(D) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(E)

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,^(A)

⁸ and,

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.^(E)

¹⁰ But by the grace^(A) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(B) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(C)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^(D)

²⁶ Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(A) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^(B)

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)

⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying^(A) and heaped abuse^(B) on him.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.^(C) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.^{(D) 47} For this is what the Lord has commanded us: