¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.^(A)

Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle

¹⁶ I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool, but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I, too, may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying in regard to this boastful undertaking, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority but as a fool;^(A)

Paul and the False Apostles

11 I wish you would put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, do put up^[a] with me!^(A)

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church

¹¹ I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.^(A)

⁶ But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,^(A)

¹⁰ We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are sensible people in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.^{(A) 11} To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are naked and beaten and homeless,^{(B) 12} and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;^{(C) 13} when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.

Paul Appeals to Agrippa to Believe

²⁴ While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!”^{(A) 25} But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.^(B)

¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(A)

³ For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, ⁴ but, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals but to please God, who tests our hearts.^{(A) 5} As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed,^{(B) 6} nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others,^{(C) 7} though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle^[a] among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. ⁸ So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

⁹ You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.^{(D) 10} You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.^{(E) 11} As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children,

⁵ because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.^(A)