1 Corinthians 9:27

yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice, lest by continually coming she wears me out.’”

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

And I went up because of a revelation, and I laid out to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, lest somehow I might be running, or had run, in vain.

not because we do not have the authority, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would imitate us.