⁹ Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent.

¹⁸ and saw Him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me!’

The Plot against Paul

¹¹ The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”^(A)

²³ For this night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me,^{(A) 24} and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ ²⁵ Therefore, take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.^(B)

⁷ especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh^(A) was given to me, a messenger^[a] of Satan^(B) to torment me so I would not exalt myself.