⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:^(A) “Do not be afraid;^(B) keep on speaking, do not be silent.

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!^(A) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”^(B)

⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(A) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(B) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^{(C) 7} You must speak^(D) my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.^{(E) 8} But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel^(F) like that rebellious people;^(G) open your mouth and eat^(H) what I give you.”

¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(A) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(B) make known the mystery^(C) of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador^(D) in chains.^(E) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

²³ Last night an angel^(A) of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve^(B) stood beside me^{(C) 24} and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;^(D) and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’^{(E) 25} So keep up your courage,^(F) men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.^(G)

² We had previously suffered^(A) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^(B) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^(C)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.^(A) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations^(B) from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ^(C) who fourteen years ago was caught up^(D) to the third heaven.^(E) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.^{(F) 3} And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—

⁹ During the night Paul had a vision^(A) of a man of Macedonia^(B) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”