⁷ He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.^(A)

¹⁹ For it is written,

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law?^[b] Where is the debater of this age?^(B) Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? ²¹ For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. ²² For the Jews ask for signs^(C) and the Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified,^(D) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.^{[c] 24} Yet to those who are called,^(E) both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, ²⁵ because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Boasting Only in the Lord

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective,^[d] not many powerful,^(F) not many of noble birth. ²⁷ Instead, God has chosen^(G) what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(A) with God, since it is written,^(B) He catches the wise in their craftiness;^{[a](C) 20} and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings^(D) of the wise are futile.^[b](E)