2 Corinthians 11:22-33

22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.

23Are they Christ’s servants? It’s insane to say it, but I’m a far better one. I’ve done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.

24Five times the Jewish leaders had me beaten with 39 lashes;

25three times Roman officials had me beaten with clubs. Once people tried to stone me to death; three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a night and a day.

26Because I’ve traveled a lot, I’ve faced dangers from raging rivers, from robbers, from my own people, and from other people. I’ve faced dangers in the city, in the open country, on the sea, and from believers who turned out to be false friends.

27Because I’ve had to work so hard, I’ve often gone without sleep, been hungry and thirsty, and gone without food and without proper clothes during cold weather.

28Besides these external matters, I have the daily pressure of my anxiety about all the churches.

29When anyone is weak, I’m weak too. When anyone is caught in a trap, I’m also harmed.

30If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am.

31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is praised forever, knows that I’m not lying.

32The governor under King Aretas put guards around the city of Damascus to catch me.

33So I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.