2 Corinthians 11:16-33 - Paul Boasts In His Sufferings
16 I say again, let no one think that I am without understanding; but if so, even as one without understanding bear with me, that I also may boast a little. 17 What I say, I say not according to the Lord, but as in folly, in this same confidence of boasting. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For it is a pleasure to you to bear with men of no understanding, since you yourselves are wise. 20 For you bear it, if one enslave you, if one devour you, if one take from you, if one exalt himself, if one smite you on the face, 21 I speak of their reproaches, as if we were weak. In what ever matter any one is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I also am bold.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they of the posterity of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I say it foolishly,) I am above them. In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews, five times I received forty stripes, save one; 25 three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three- times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent in the deep. 26 In journeying s often, in perils from rivers, in perils from robbers, in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the desert, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and in toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness:
28 besides those things which come upon me from other sources, I have a daily concourse of troubles my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I am not incensed? 30 If I must boast, I will boast in my infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. 32 In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, desiring to apprehend me: 33 and through a window I was let down in a basket through the wall, and es caped his hands.