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.’ ”

³⁶ And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷ Then they all ^(Z)wept ^[h]freely, and ^(AA)fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, ³⁸ sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Stoning, Escape to Derbe

^19 (A)Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, ^(B)they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be ^(C)dead. ²⁰ However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Strengthening the Converts

²¹ And when they had preached the gospel to that city ^(D)and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, ^(E)exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ^(F)“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

⁴⁸ Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and ^(A)would have passed them by.

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 Therefore, ^(A)having been justified by faith, ^[a]we have ^(B)peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^2 (C)through whom also we have access by faith into this grace ^(D)in which we stand, and ^(E)rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but ^(F)we also glory in tribulations, ^(G)knowing that tribulation produces ^[b]perseverance; ^4 (H)and perseverance, ^[c]character; and character, hope. ^5 (I)Now hope does not disappoint, ^(J)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Christ in Our Place

⁶ For when we were still without strength, ^[d]in due time ^(K)Christ died for the ungodly.

³⁶ Now ^(A)the ^[a]Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

Joseph a Slave in Egypt

39 Now Joseph had been taken ^(A)down to Egypt. And ^(B)Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, ^(C)bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. ^2 (D)The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³ And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord ^(E)made all he did ^[a]to prosper in his hand.