Who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

But in all things presenting ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, which you have attained.

For I suppose I was not the least behind the very chief apostles.

I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the very chief apostles, though I be nothing.

Truly the signs of an apostle were done among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

For which I also labor, striving according to his working, who works in me mightily.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes less one.

Three times was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

But in all things presenting ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

For I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

For I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Except that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's belt, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this belt, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

He hoped also that money should have been given him by Paul, that he might release him: therefore he sent for him often, and conferred with him.

But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' position: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

And when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation by which you are called,

For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that in this I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains:

In which I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

For you had compassion on me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring possession.

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead:

Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

And there came there certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what is the gain to me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.

Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: