Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and ^(A)revelations of the Lord.

^12 (A)For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it ^(B)through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come and ^(A)has given us understanding, so that we may know ^(B)him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and ^(C)eternal life.

⁷ So ^(A)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^{[a] (B)}a thorn was given me in the flesh, ^(C)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

² I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those ^(A)who seemed influential) the gospel that ^(B)I proclaim among the Gentiles, ^(C)in order to make sure I was not running or had not ^(D)run in vain.

Concern for the Corinthian Church

^11 (A)I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was ^(B)not at all inferior to these super-apostles, ^(C)even though I am nothing.

¹⁰ And in this matter ^(A)I give my judgment: ^(B)this benefits you, who ^(C)a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.

Do All to the Glory of God

^23 (A)“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

¹³ At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me ^(A)in the Hebrew language,^[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and ^(B)stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^(C)to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, ^17 (D)delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—^(E)to whom I ^(F)am sending you ^18 (G)to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from ^(H)the power of Satan to God, that they may receive ^(I)forgiveness of sins and ^(J)a place among those who are sanctified ^(K)by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to ^(L)the heavenly vision,