The Call of Jeremiah

⁴ The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak;^(F) I am too young.”^(G)

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid^(H) of them, for I am with you^(I) and will rescue^(J) you,” declares the Lord.^(K)

⁹ Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched^(L) my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.^{(M) 10} See, today I appoint you over nations^(N) and kingdoms to uproot^(O) and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”^(P)

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(A) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(B) and tried to destroy it.^{(C) 14} I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(D) for the traditions of my fathers.^{(E) 15} But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(F) and called me^(G) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(H) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(I) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(J)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(K) I went up to Jerusalem^(L) to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(M) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(N) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(O)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(P) and Cilicia.^{(Q) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(R) that are in Christ.^{(S) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(T) he once tried to destroy.”^{(U) 24} And they praised God^(V) because of me.