15 But the Lord said to him: “Go! because this man is a chosen vessel* to me+ to bear my name to the nations+ as well as to kings+ and the sons of Israel. 16 For I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name.”+

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the tribulation we experienced in the province of Asia.+ We were under extreme pressure beyond our own strength, so that we were very uncertain even of our lives.+

4 but in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers,+ by the endurance of much, by tribulations, by times of need, by difficulties,+ 5 by beatings,+ by imprisonments,+ by riots, by hard work, by sleepless nights, by times without food;+

20 For what merit is there if you are beaten for sinning and you endure it?+ But if you endure suffering because of doing good, this is an agreeable thing to God.+

21 In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you,+ leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely.+