BRETHREN, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever,
knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas
guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in
a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.
I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on
to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who
fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-whether in the body
or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this
man was caught up into Paradise-whether in the body or out of the
body I do not know, God knows-and he heard things that cannot be told,
which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my
own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I
wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the
truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than
he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated
by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh,
a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too
elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave
me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my
weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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