Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.
Praise befits the upright.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will extol you, my Lord, the King. O Christ, who summoned your worshippers to the Feast of your friends, Peter, the head of the Twelve, and Paul, the vessel of glorious things, lo, heavenly beings with companies of those below rejoice today on the Memorial of your preachers, and in love they request that your tranquillity might reign over your Church. Bring the conflicts of the Deceiver to an end in her, and make us worthy, O my Lord, to sing glory to you with your saints at the wedding feast of your Kingdom.