2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Paul’s Sufferings as an Apostle

16I repeat, alet no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17What I am saying bwith this boastful confidence, cI say not as the Lord would
Greek  not according to the Lord
but as a fool.
18Since emany boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19For you gladly bear with fools, fbeing wise yourselves! 20For you bear it if someone gmakes slaves of you, or hdevours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or istrikes you in the face. 21To my shame, I must say, jwe were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.
22Are they Hebrews? kSo am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they lservants of Christ? mI am a better one—I am talking like a madmanwith far greater labors, nfar more imprisonments, owith countless beatings, and poften near death. 24Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the qforty lashes less one. 25Three times I was rbeaten with rods. sOnce I was stoned. Three times I twas shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, udanger from my own people, vdanger from Gentiles, wdanger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 xin toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, yin hunger and thirst, often without food,
Or  often in fasting
in cold and exposure.
28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for aaall the churches. 29 abWho is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

30 acIf I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 adThe God and Father of the Lord Jesus, aehe who is blessed forever, afknows that I am not lying. 32At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas agwas guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 ahbut I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

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