¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^(A)he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before ^(B)Gentiles, ^(C)kings, and the ^(D)children^[a] of Israel.

¹⁵ But when it pleased God, ^(A)who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, ^16 (B)to reveal His Son in me, that ^(C)I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with ^(D)flesh and blood,

^7 (A)of which I became a minister ^(B)according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by ^(C)the effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

⁸ To me, ^(D)who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ^(E)the unsearchable riches of Christ,

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(A)May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

^17 (B)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^(C)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^(D)out of the mouth of the lion.

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as ^(A)I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

⁵ Through Him ^(A)we have received grace and apostleship for ^(B)obedience to the faith among all nations ^(C)for His name,

¹⁷ I will ^[a]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, ^(A)to whom I ^[b]now send you, ^18 (B)to open their eyes, in order ^(C)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, ^(D)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and ^(E)an inheritance among those who are ^(F)sanctified^[c] by faith in Me.’

Paul’s Post-Conversion Life

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but ^(G)declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do ^(H)works befitting repentance.

^7 (A)for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth ^[a]in Christ and not lying—^(B)a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.