“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.

For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.

So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit.

But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law.

That is why I did not presume to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed.

I testify about myself and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

“Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,

Of course, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.

So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.

Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge?

On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.

If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority.

For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak.

And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.

But what was the divine response to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal.”