So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord [said] to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought [him] into Damascus.

"So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

"For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent [them] away.

"Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

'For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

"for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry."

"to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place."

"but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

"But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting [me] into the ministry,

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

"for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

"Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

"So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.

"Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' "

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

"For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,

"saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:

And I know such a man -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows --

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught [it,] but [it came] through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.