But we’re like clay jars that hold a valuable treasure. We carry the good news around in these earthly bodies of ours to show that its mighty power comes from God and not from us.
But he told me, “My grace is all you need, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will gladly brag all the more about how weak I am, so that Christ’s power can rest on me.
Christ didn’t send me to baptize; he sent me to preach the good news. But I wasn’t supposed to try to persuade you with fancy words, because that would take all the power away from the cross of Christ.
One of the women who listened to us was named Lydia. She was from the city of Thyatira, and she had a business selling purple cloth. She already believed in God, and the Lord opened her heart to accept Paul’s message.