"But I do not considermy lifeof anyaccountas dearto myself,sothat I may finishmy courseand the ministrywhichI receivedfrom the LordJesus,to testify solemnlyof the gospelof the graceof God.
So the threebrokethroughthe campof the Philistinesand drewwaterfrom the wellof Bethlehemwhich[was] by the gate,and took[it] and brought[it] to David;nevertheless Davidwouldnot drinkit, but pouredit out to the LORD;
for I havefivebrothers--in orderthat he may warnthem, sothat they will not alsocometo thisplaceof torment.'
and you [will] testifyalso,becauseyou have beenwith Me from the beginning.
"I glorifiedYou on the earth,having accomplishedthe workwhichYou have givenMe to do.
"For he was countedamongus and receivedhis sharein thisministry."
Then when he arrivedand witnessedthe graceof God,he rejoicedand [began] to encouragethem allwith resoluteheartto remain[true] to the Lord;
"And whileJohnwas completinghis course,he kept saying,'Whatdo you supposethat I am?I amnot [He]. But behold,one is comingafterme the sandalsof whosefeetI amnot worthyto untie.'
Thereforethey spenta longtime[there] speaking boldly[with reliance] upon the Lord,who was testifyingto the wordof His grace,grantingthat signsand wondersbe doneby their hands.
After there had beenmuchdebate,Peterstoodup and saidto them, "Brethren,you knowthat in the earlydaysGodmade a choiceamongyou, that by my mouththe Gentileswould hearthe wordof the gospeland believe.
But whenSilasand Timothycame downfrom Macedonia,Paul[began] devoting himself completelyto the word,solemnly testifyingto the Jewsthat Jesuswas the Christ.
solemnly testifyingto bothJewsand Greeksof repentancetowardGodand faithin our LordJesusChrist.
exceptthat the HolySpiritsolemnly testifiesto me in everycity,sayingthat bondsand afflictionsawaitme.
"And nowI commendyou to Godand to the wordof His grace,which is ableto build[you] up and to give[you] the inheritanceamongallthosewho are sanctified.
ThenPaulanswered,"Whatare you doing,weepingand breakingmy heart?For I amreadynot onlyto be bound,but evento dieat Jerusalemfor the nameof the LordJesus."
"And He saidto me, 'Go!For I will sendyou farawayto the Gentiles.'"
But the Lordsaidto him, "Go,for he is a choseninstrumentof Mine,to bearMy namebeforethe Gentilesand kingsand the sonsof Israel;
But ifit is by grace,it is nolongeron the basisof works,otherwisegraceis no longergrace.
Nowto the one who works,his wageis not creditedas a favor,but as what is due.
Therefore,my belovedbrethren,be steadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingin the workof the Lord,knowingthat your toilis not [in] vainin the Lord.
ThereforeI am well contentwith weaknesses,with insults,with distresses,with persecutions,with difficulties,for Christ'ssake;for whenI am weak,thenI amstrong.
Therefore,since we havethisministry,as we received mercy,we do not lose heart,
Sodeathworksin us, but lifein you.
we are of good courage,I say, and preferratherto be absentfrom the bodyand to be at homewith the Lord.
Greatis my confidencein you; greatis my boastingon your behalf.I am filledwith comfort;I am overflowingwith joyin allour affliction.
Paul,an apostle(not [sent] from mennorthroughthe agencyof man,but throughJesusChristand Godthe Father,who raisedHim from the dead),
to the praiseof the gloryof His grace,whichHe freely bestowedon us in the Beloved.
ThereforeI askyou not to lose heartat my tribulationson your behalf,for they are your glory.
But evenifI am being poured out as a drink offeringupon the sacrificeand serviceof your faith,I rejoiceand share my joywith you all.
becausehe came closeto deathfor the workof Christ,riskinghis lifeto completewhat was deficientin your serviceto me.
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
but after we had already sufferedand been mistreatedin Philippi,as you know,we had the boldnessin our Godto speakto you the gospelof Godamidmuchopposition.
so that no onewould be disturbedby theseafflictions;for you yourselvesknowthat we have been destinedfor this.
For thisreasonI alsosufferthese things,but I am not ashamed;for I knowwhomI have believedand I am convincedthat He is ableto guardwhat I have entrustedto Him untilthat day.
persecutions,[and] sufferings,suchas happenedto me at Antioch,at Iconium[and] at Lystra;whatpersecutionsI endured,and out of them allthe Lordrescuedme!
But the Lordstoodwith me and strengthenedme, sothat throughme the proclamationmight be fully accomplished,and that allthe Gentilesmight hear;and I was rescuedout of the lion'smouth.
but at the propertimemanifested,[even] His word,in the proclamationwith whichI was entrustedaccordingto the commandmentof Godour Savior,
For the graceof Godhas appeared,bringing salvationto allmen,
For you showed sympathyto the prisonersand acceptedjoyfullythe seizureof your property,knowingthat you havefor yourselvesa betterpossessionand a lastingone.
ThroughSilvanus,our faithfulbrother(for soI regard[him]), I have writtento you briefly,exhortingand testifyingthat thisis the true graceof God.Stand firmin it!
We knowloveby this,that He laiddownHis lifefor us; and we oughtto lay downour livesfor the brethren.
"And they overcamehim becauseof the bloodof the Lamband becauseof the wordof their testimony,and they did not lovetheir lifeeven whenfaced with death.
And there was givento eachof them a whiterobe;and they were toldthat they should restfor a littlewhilelonger,until[the number of] their fellow servantsand their brethrenwho were to be killedevenas they had been, would be completedalso.
