Even if others do not accept me as an apostle, surely you do! Because of your life in union with the Lord you yourselves are proof of the fact that I am an apostle.

When people criticize me, this is how I defend myself:

From Paul, who was called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes---

Last of all he appeared also to me---even though I am like someone whose birth was abnormal.

For I am the least of all the apostles---I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted God's church.

The Lord said to him, "Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel.

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them."

The people of the city were divided: some were for the Jews, others for the apostles.

He said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see his righteous Servant, and to hear him speaking with his own voice.

For you will be a witness for him to tell everyone what you have seen and heard.

She followed Paul and us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God! They announce to you how you can be saved!"

She did this for many days, until Paul became so upset that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!" The spirit went out of her that very moment.

From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus and an apostle chosen and called by God to preach his Good News.

Through him God gave me the privilege of being an apostle for the sake of Christ, in order to lead people of all nations to believe and obey.

I am speaking now to you Gentiles: As long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I will take pride in my work.

I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called "apostles" of yours!

I am acting like a fool---but you have made me do it. You are the ones who ought to show your approval of me. For even if I am nothing, I am in no way inferior to those very special "apostles" of yours.

The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience.

From Paul, whose call to be an apostle did not come from human beings or by human means, but from Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from death.

But God in his grace chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him. And when he decided

nor did I go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and then I returned to Damascus.

On the contrary, they saw that God had given me the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the task of preaching the gospel to the Jews.

For by God's power I was made an apostle to the Gentiles, just as Peter was made an apostle to the Jews.

and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth!

God has appointed me as an apostle and teacher to proclaim the Good News,

From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion,

and at the right time he revealed it in his message. This was entrusted to me, and I proclaim it by order of God our Savior.

I am a free man, nobody's slave; but I make myself everybody's slave in order to win as many people as possible.

Freedom is what we have---Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.

Last of all he appeared also to me---even though I am like someone whose birth was abnormal.

As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him.

"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said.

So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. "Brother Saul," he said, "the Lord has sent me---Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up,

"As I was traveling and coming near Damascus, about midday a bright light from the sky flashed suddenly around me.

'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute,' he said to me.

He said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see his righteous Servant, and to hear him speaking with his own voice.

And now, why wait any longer? Get up and be baptized and have your sins washed away by praying to him.'

in which I saw the Lord, as he said to me, 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your witness about me.'

And when your witness Stephen was put to death, I myself was there, approving of his murder and taking care of the cloaks of his murderers.'

That night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Don't be afraid! You have given your witness for me here in Jerusalem, and you must also do the same in Rome."

But get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant. You are to tell others what you have seen of me today and what I will show you in the future.

You are to open their eyes and turn them from the darkness to the light and from the power of Satan to God, so that through their faith in me they will have their sins forgiven and receive their place among God's chosen people.'

I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow.

I write this to you, not because I want to make you feel ashamed, but to instruct you as my own dear children.

For even if you have ten thousand guardians in your Christian life, you have only one father. For in your life in union with Christ Jesus I have become your father by bringing the Good News to you.

Crispus, who was the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his family; and many other people in Corinth heard the message, believed, and were baptized.

for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people."

In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God's grace not to let it be wasted.