Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle

16 I repeat: Let no one consider me to be a fool. But if you do, receive me just as you would a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I say in this confidence of boasting, I am not saying in accordance with the Lord, but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools since you are so wise! 20 You bear with it if anyone enslaves you, devours you, takes advantage of you, exalts himself, or hits you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking like a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so, with far more labors, with [fn]beatings beyond measure, with far more imprisonments, and often facing death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent in the open sea. 26 I have often been on journeys, exposed to dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers. 27 I have endured labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, and hunger and thirst. I have often gone without food and have been cold due to a lack of sufficient clothing. 28 Apart from these external things, there is [fn]my daily burden: my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of [fn]the Lord Jesus [fn]Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the [fn]Damascenes, wanting to arrest me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the city wall and escaped from his hands.