The Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a ^(A)thorn in the flesh was given to me, ^(B)a messenger of Satan to ^[a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ^8 (C)Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly ^(D)I will rather boast in my infirmities, ^(E)that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(F)I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. ^(G)For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Call to Apostleship^(A)

^11 (B)But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. ¹² For ^(C)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came ^(D)through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how ^(E)I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and ^(F)tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, ^(G)being more exceedingly zealous ^(H)for the traditions of my fathers.

¹⁵ But when it pleased God, ^(I)who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, ^16 (J)to reveal His Son in me, that ^(K)I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with ^(L)flesh and blood, ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.