¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days^(A) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,^(B) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;^(C)

⁵ because of your partnership^(A) in the gospel from the first day^(B) until now,

⁸ I robbed other churches by receiving support from them^(A) so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.^(B) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(C) in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me,^(D) nobody in the regions of Achaia^(E) will stop this boasting^(F) of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows^(G) I do!^(H)

¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹ I have made a fool of myself,^(A) but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,”^[a](B) even though I am nothing.^{(C) 12} I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^{(D) 13} How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you?^(E) Forgive me this wrong!^(F)

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(G) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(H) but parents for their children.^{(I) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(J) If I love you more,^(K) will you love me less?

⁴⁰ After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,^(A) where they met with the brothers and sisters^(B) and encouraged them. Then they left.

In Thessalonica

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,^(C) where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,^(D) and on three Sabbath^(E) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,^{(F) 3} explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer^(G) and rise from the dead.^(H) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”^(I) he said. ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,^(J) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

⁵ But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.^(K) They rushed to Jason’s^(L) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.^[a]

²⁰ Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord^(A) lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

¹⁶ The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.^(A)