⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul,^(A) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

¹⁹ For it is written:

²⁰ Where is the wise person?^(B) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?^(C) Has not God made foolish^(D) the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(E) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(F) those who believe.^{(G) 22} Jews demand signs^(H) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(I) a stumbling block^(J) to Jews and foolishness^(K) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(L) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(M) and the wisdom of God.^{(N) 25} For the foolishness^(O) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(P) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(Q) Not many of you were wise^(R) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(S) the foolish^(T) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(A) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^{(B) 20} and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^[b](C)