¹² Brothers and sisters, I became like you [^Cliving like a Gentile to win them to Christ; 1 Cor. 9:21], so I beg you to become like me [^Cdepending on God’s grace, not the Jewish law, for salvation]. You ·were very good to me before [^Ldid me no wrong]. ¹³ You remember that it was because of an illness that I came to you the first time, preaching the ·Good News [Gospel]. ¹⁴ Though my sickness was a ·trouble for you [trial for you; or test of your concern], you did not ·hate [despise] me or ·make me leave [reject me]. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel from God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself!