²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.^(A)

⁵ When Silas^(A) and Timothy^(B) came from Macedonia,^(C) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.^(D)

¹⁵ For I will give you^(A) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

²⁷ But God chose^(A) the foolish^(B) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,^(A) the brothers and sisters^(B) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures^(C) that Jesus was the Messiah.^(D)

²³ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,^(A) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets^(B) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.^(C)

⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene^(A) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia^(B) and Asia^(C)—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^(D)

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.^(A)