e were feeble; but wherein any man is bold (I speak in
foolishness), I am bold also. (22)Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they
Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. (23)Are
they the ministers of Christ? (I speak foolishly) I am above _them_: in
labours more abundantly, in stripes exceedingly more, in prisons more
frequently, in the most immediate danger of death often. (24)Of the
Jews five times I have received forty stripes save one. (25)Thrice I
have been scourged with rods, once I have been stoned, thrice I have
suffered shipwreck, a whole night and day I have passed in the deep;
(26)in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in
perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the heathen, in perils in
the city, in perils in the desert, in perils on the sea, in perils
among false brethren; (27)in labour and travail, in watchings often, in
fastings frequently, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness;
(28)and beside all these things from without, that accumulated burden
which cometh on me daily, the care of all the churches. (29)Who is
feeble, and am I not feeble? Who is offended, and am I not on fire?
(30)If I must glory, I will glory in the things which respect my
infirmities. (31)The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is
blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. (32)In Damascus the
governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes,
intending to seize me; (33)and through a window in a basket I was let
down by the wall, and escaped out of his hands.

CHAP. XII.

IT is not expedient doubtless for me to boast. I will yet come to
visions and revelations of the Lord. (2)I knew a man in Christ above
fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I know not, or whether out of
the body I know not: God knoweth;) such a one was caught up unto the
third heavens. (3)And I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of
the body I know not: God knoweth,) (4)that he was caught up into
paradise, and heard ineffable words, which it is not permitted to man
to speak. (5)Of such a one will I boast; but in myself will I not
boast, save in my infirmities. (6)For though I should be disposed to
boast, I shall not be a fool; for I shall speak truth: but I desist,
lest any man think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he
heareth of me. (7)And that I might not be lifted up above measure by
the transcendent greatness of the revelations, there was given me a
thorn in t