Old/New Testament

¹⁶ I say again, lest anyone think that I am foolish, or else even now take me as a fool if I boast a little, ¹⁷ that what I am saying I do not say after the ways of the Lord, but as it were foolishly, since we have now come to boasting. ¹⁸ Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will boast also. ¹⁹ For you suffer fools gladly, because you yourselves are wise. ²⁰ For you oblige even if a man brings you into bondage, if a man devours, if a man takes, if a man exalts himself, if a man strikes you on the face. ²¹ I speak by way of rebuke. As if we were weak!

However, in any point a man dares to presume (I speak foolishly), I dare to presume also: ²² they are Hebrews; so am I. They are Israelites; so am I. They are the seed of Abraham; so am I. ²³ They are the ministers of Christ (I speak like a fool); I am more so: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prison more frequently, in death often.

²⁴ Five times from the Jews I received every time forty stripes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. I was once stoned. I suffered shipwreck three times. Night and day I have been in the deep of the sea, ²⁶ often journeying, in danger in rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own nation, in danger among the heathen. I have been in danger in cities, in danger in the countryside, in danger on the sea, in danger among false brethren, ²⁷ in labour and travail, in sleepless nights often, in hunger, in thirst – going without food often, in cold and without clothing. ²⁸ And besides the things that outwardly happen to me, I am daily concerned and do care for all the congregations. ²⁹ Who is sick, and I am not sick? Who is hurt in the faith and my heart does not burn? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of my afflictions. ³¹ The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forevermore, knows that I do not speak untruly.

³² In the city of Damascus, the governor of the people under king Aretas laid watch in the city of the Damascenes, and would have captured me. ³³ But at a window I was let down in a basket through the wall, and so escaped his hands.