1Cor 15:9-10, 2Cor 3:5, 7:5, 12:7-10, Gal 4:13-14 | ESV | STEP | For I am the least of the apostles , unworthy to be called an apostle , because I persecuted the church of God .

1 Corinthians 15:9-10

9 For ^aI am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because ^bI persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, ^cI worked harder than any of them, ^dthough it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

2 Corinthians 3:5

5 ^eNot that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but ^four sufficiency is from God,

2 Corinthians 7:5

5 For even ^gwhen we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn— ^hfighting without and fear within.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 So ⁱto keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, ^{▼▼Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited} ^ka thorn was given me in the flesh, ^la messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 ^mThree times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, ⁿ“My grace is sufficient for you, for ^omy power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that ^pthe power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 ^qFor the sake of Christ, then, ^rI am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For ^swhen I am weak, then I am strong.

Galatians 4:13-14

13 You know it was ^tbecause of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^uat first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^vas an angel of God, ^was Christ Jesus.