Book of Common Prayer

²¹ I speak by way of rebuke. As if we were weak!

However, in any point a man dares to presume (I speak foolishly), I dare to presume also: ²² they are Hebrews; so am I. They are Israelites; so am I. They are the seed of Abraham; so am I. ²³ They are the ministers of Christ (I speak like a fool); I am more so: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prison more frequently, in death often.

²⁴ Five times from the Jews I received every time forty stripes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. I was once stoned. I suffered shipwreck three times. Night and day I have been in the deep of the sea, ²⁶ often journeying, in danger in rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own nation, in danger among the heathen. I have been in danger in cities, in danger in the countryside, in danger on the sea, in danger among false brethren, ²⁷ in labour and travail, in sleepless nights often, in hunger, in thirst – going without food often, in cold and without clothing. ²⁸ And besides the things that outwardly happen to me, I am daily concerned and do care for all the congregations. ²⁹ Who is sick, and I am not sick? Who is hurt in the faith and my heart does not burn? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of my afflictions. ³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forevermore, knows that I do not speak untruly.

³² In the city of Damascus, the governor of the people under king Aretas laid watch in the city of the Damascenes, and would have captured me. ³³ But at a window I was let down in a basket through the wall, and so escaped his hands.

¹¹ As the people listened to these things, he added a similitude, because he was nearing Jerusalem, and also because they thought that the kingdom of God would shortly appear. ¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return. ¹³ And he called his ten servants and gave them ten minas, saying to them, Trade with these till I come. ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him and sent messengers after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, when the nobleman returned and had received his kingdom, he commanded those servants to whom he had given his money to be called to him, to find out how each had done. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, your mina has increased ten minas. ¹⁷ And he said to him, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little thing, you shall have authority over ten cities. ¹⁸ And the other came, saying, Lord, your mina has increased five minas. ¹⁹ And to him he said, You also shall be over five cities.

²⁰ And the third came and said, Lord, here is your mina, which I have kept in a napkin. ²¹ For I feared you, because you are a hard man. You take where you did not invest, and reap what you did not sow.

²² And his lord said to him, By your own mouth I judge you, you evil servant. You knew that I am a hard man, taking where I did not invest and reaping what I did not sow? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I could have claimed what is my own with profit?

²⁴ And he said to those who stood by, Take from him that mina, and give it the one who has ten minas. ²⁵ And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas!

²⁶ I say to you that to all those who have, it will be given, and from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken from him. ²⁷ Moreover, those my enemies who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.