2 Corinthians 11:16-33 - Paul Boasts In His Sufferings
16 I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little. 17 what I say, I say it not as an apostle, but as it were to indulge my vanity in this matter of boasting. 18 since many glory in outward advantages, I will glory too. 19 for as wise as you are your selves, you easily bear with the folly of others. 20 if a man impose upon you, if he preys upon you, if he makes a gain of you, if a man insults you, if he disgracefully assaults you, I mean it as to their reproaches, you take it all; 21 as if I was inferior to them. but whatever they pretend to, (I must be so vain) I pretend to the like.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I: are they Israelites? so am I: are they of the race of Abraham? 23 so am I: are they ministers of Christ? is it my vanity? I am more so: in toilsome labours I surpass them, in stripes I am exceedingly beyond them, in prisons I have been oftner, and frequently in the very jaws of death. 24 from the Jews I have five times received forty stripes save one. 25 thrice was I whip'd with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I was shipwreck'd; a night and a day I was floating on the deep: 26 in my voyages I have been frequently in perils from rivers, in perils from robbers, in perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the country, in perils at sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 expos'd to toil, to fatigue, to frequent watchings, to hunger and thirst, to frequent fastings, to cold and penury.
28 besides these troubles from without, that which crouds upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 who is afflicted, and I not suffer? who is offended, and I not inflam'd? 30 If I must be compell'd to glory, I will glory on the account of my sufferings. 31 the ever-blessed God, and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, knows that I speak truth. 32 in Damascus the governor for king Aretas, posted guards at the city-gates, with a design to apprehend me: 33 but thro' a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and so escap'd.