Paul's Visions and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12

1 It is 1 doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to a visions and b revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man c in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a one d was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows - 4 how he was caught up into e Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not f boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a g thorn in the flesh was given to me, h a messenger of Satan to 2 buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 i Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly j I will rather boast in my infirmities, k that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore l I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. m For when I am weak, then I am strong.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 16:9
    And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A m...
    Acts 18:9
    Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vi...
    Acts 22:17
    Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem a...
    Acts 22:18
    "and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get ...
    Acts 23:11
    But the following night the Lord stood by him a...
    Acts 26:13 - 15
    At midday, O king, along the road I saw a light...
    Acts 27:23
    For there stood by me this night an angel of th...
  2. Cross References
    Acts 9:3 - 6
    As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and sudd...
    1 Corinthians 14:6
    But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking wi...
    2 Corinthians 12:7
    And lest I should be exalted above measure by t...
    Galatians 1:12
    For I neither received it from man, nor was I t...
    Galatians 2:2
    And I went up by revelation, and communicated t...
    Ephesians 3:3 - 6
    How that by revelation He made known to me the ...
  3. Cross References
    Romans 16:7
    Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
    Galatians 1:22
    And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 22:17
    Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance
  5. Cross References
    Luke 23:43
    And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.
    Revelation 2:7
    "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."'
  6. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:30
    If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
  7. Cross References
    Numbers 33:55
    But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.
    Ezekiel 28:24
    "And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD."
    Hosea 2:6
    Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, And wall her in, So that she cannot find her paths.
    Galatians 4:13
    You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
    Galatians 4:14
    And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
  8. Cross References
    Job 2:7
    So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
    Matthew 4:10
    Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'
    Luke 13:16
    "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound - think of it - for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
    1 Corinthians 5:5
    Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 3:23
    Then I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying:
    Matthew 26:44
    So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:30
    If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
  11. Cross References
    1 Peter 4:14
    If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
  12. Cross References
    Romans 5:3
    And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.
    Romans 8:35
    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 13:4
    For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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