³³ Then the ^[a]commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be ^(A)bound with ^(B)two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.

²⁰ for which I am an ^(A)ambassador ^(B)in ^[a]chains; that ^[b]in proclaiming it I may speak ^(C)boldly, ^(D)as I ought to speak.

¹³ so that my ^[a](A)imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole ^[b]praetorian guard and to ^(B)everyone else, ¹⁴ and that most of the ^[c]brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my ^[d](C)imprisonment, have ^(D)far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. ^15 (E)Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even ^[e]from envy and strife, but some also ^[f]from good will; ¹⁶ the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the ^(F)gospel; ¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ ^(G)out of selfish ambition ^[g]rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my ^[h](H)imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my ^[i]deliverance ^(I)through your ^[j]prayers and the provision of ^(J)the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my ^(K)earnest expectation and ^(L)hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with ^(M)all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be ^(N)exalted in my body, ^(O)whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

²¹ For to me, ^(P)to live is Christ and to die is gain. ^22 [k]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean ^(Q)fruitful labor for me; and I do not know ^[l]which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the ^(R)desire to depart and ^(S)be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. ^25 (T)Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy ^[m]in the faith, ²⁶ so that your ^(U)proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner ^(V)worthy of the ^(W)gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are ^(X)standing firm in ^(Y)one spirit, with one ^[n]mind ^(Z)striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a ^(AA)sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(AB)it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(AC)suffer for His sake, ³⁰ experiencing the same ^(AD)conflict which ^(AE)you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ ^(A)out of selfish ambition ^[a]rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my ^[b](B)imprisonment.