⁹ One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent,^(A)

¹¹ That night the Lord stood near him and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.”^(A)

⁶ And you, O mortal, do not be afraid of them, and do not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words, and do not be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.^{(A) 7} You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.^(B)

⁸ “But you, mortal, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”^(C)

¹⁹ Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,^{[a](A) 20} for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.^(B)

²³ For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,^{(A) 24} and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor, and, indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’^{(B) 25} So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.^(C)

² but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.^(A)

Paul’s Visions and Revelations

12 It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.^{(A) 3} And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—

⁹ During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”^(A)

¹⁷ But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them.^(A)