I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those“ super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.
Now from those recognized as important( what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism)— they added nothing to me.On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised,since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles.When James, Cephas, and John— those recognized as pillars— acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
