Sometimes people spoke badly about you in front of others. Sometimes you were mistreated. At other times you stood side by side with people who were being treated like that.
It feels as if God has put us apostles on display like the people who are put at the end of the procession to the arena because they’re going to die there. And it feels as if the whole universe is watching, both angels and humans.
It’s right for me to feel this way about all of you. You have a special place in my heart. Whether I’m being held in chains or standing up for the truth of the good news, either way, all of you share together in God’s grace with me.
Brothers and sisters, you imitated the members of the synagogues in Judea that believe in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own people the same things they suffered from the Jews,
So don’t be ashamed of the message about our Lord, and don’t be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, join with me as I suffer for the good news. God’s power will help us do that.