2 Corinthians 11:32

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: GOVERNOR - Greek, 'Ethnarch'-a commandant to whom pagan rulers gave authority over the numerous Jews in large cities. He was in this case under Aretas, king of Arabia. Damascus was in a Roman province. But at this time, 38 or 39 A.D., three years after Paul's conversion, 36 AD, Aretas-against whom the emperor Tiberius, as the ally of Herod Antipas, had sent an army under Vitellius-had gotten possession of Damascus on the death of the emperor, and the consequent interruption of Vitellius' operations. The war of Aretas with Herod arose from the latter having put away, for Herodias, his wife, Aretas' daughter (Neander). Rather, it was granted by Caligula (38 AD) to Aretas, whose predecessors had possessed it. This is proved by our having no Damascene coins of Caligula...

22-33 The apostle gives an account of his labours and sufferings; not out of pride or vain-glory, but to the honour of God, who enabled him to do and suffer so much for the cause of Christ; and shows wherein he excelled the false apostles, who tried to lessen his character and usefulness. It astonishes us to reflect on this account of his dangers, hardships, and sufferings, and to observe his patience, perseverance, diligence, cheerfulness, and usefulness, in the midst of all these trials. See what little reason we have to love the pomp and plenty of this world, when this blessed apostle felt so much hardship in it. Our utmost diligence and services appear unworthy of notice when compared with his, and our difficulties and trials scarcely can be perceived. It may well lead us to inquire whether or not we really are followers of Christ. Here we may study patience, courage, and firm trust...

Verse 32. _IN DAMASCUS THE GOVERNOR UNDER ARETAS_] For a description of Damascus see the note on _"_Acts 9:2_"_. And for the transaction to which the apostle refers see Acts 9:23. As to King _Aretas_, there were three of this name. The _first_ is mentioned _2 Maccab. v. 8_. The _second_ by _Josephus_, Antiq. l. xiii. c. 15, sec. 2; and l. xvi. c. 1, sec. 4. The _third_, who is the person supposed to be referred to here, was the father-in-law of Herod Antipas, of whom see the notes, _"_Acts 9:23_"_, c. But it is a question of some importance, How could Damascus, a city of _Syria_, be under the government of an Arabian king? It may be accounted for thus: Herod Antip

IN DAMASCUS - This circumstance is mentioned as an additional trial. It is evidently mentioned as an instance of peril which had escaped his recollection in the rapid account of his dangers enumerated in the previous verses. It is designed to show what imminent danger he was in, and how narrowly he escaped with his life. On the situation of Damascus, see the note, Acts 9:2. The transaction here referred to is also related by Luke Acts 9:24, though without mentioning the name of the king, or referring to the fact that the governor kept the city with a garrison. THE GOVERNOR - Greek, ὁ ἐθνάρχης ho ethnarchēs, “The ethnarch;” properly a ruler of the people, a prefect, a ruler, a chief. Who he

AN APOSTLE DRIVEN AGAINST HIS WILL INTO A SEMBLANCE OF BOASTING. EXPOSITION An apology for the "foolishness" of boasting (2 Corinthians 11:1). He is not afraid of comparisons (2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 11:6). He will not recede from his despised practice of teaching gratuitously (2 Corinthians 11:7). A second apology, drawn from the outrageous conduct of his opponents ...

IN DAMASCUS THE GOVERNOR UNDER ARETAS THE KING,.... Aretas or Al-Hareth was a king of Arabia, of the family of the Gassanii; among whom were many of this name r; and who for some hundreds of years ruled over Syria, of which Damascus was the metropolis. The fourth king of that family was of this name, and perhaps is the person here meant; and after him there were four more of the same family so called; it was a name of Arabian kings in other families. The fifteenth king of the Yamanensians was of this name, and so was the "seventeenth" of the Hirensians s, and the "third" of the kings of Cenda; in the times of Antiochus Epiphanes, there was an Aretas king of the Arabians, mentioned in the Apocrypha t. "In the end therefore he had an unhappy return, being accused before Aretas the king of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued of all men, hated as a forsaker of the laws, and bei...

2 CORINTHIANS 11:32 pia,sai me {B} Although support for the reading pia,sai me is not extensive, its quality is impressive (B D* itd, ar vg syrp copsa arm). If qe,lwn were original, its omission would be difficult to account for; on the other hand, its insertion at various positions can be explained as the work of copyists in the interest of stylistic amelioration....

2. ANSWERING HIS ADVERSARIES. HIS BOASTINGS. CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The Danger Through False Teachers. (2 Corinthians 11:1)_ 2. Answering His Adversaries. (2 Corinthians 11:7) 3. His Boastings of Labors and Sufferings. (2 Corinthians 11:16 .) Inasmuch as he did not want to boast, he tells the Corinthians to bear with him a little while he acts foolishly in speaking of himself. It had become necessary to do so in order to answer his adversaries, who were making havoc among the Corinthians, but he looks upon his vindication and boasting as nothing less than folly. He is about to do what he had exposed in others in the previous chapter ...

COMPARISON BETWEEN PAUL AND HIS OPPONENTS (_cf._ 2 Corinthians 11:6). Under the pressure of intense feeling he will break through his inclination and self-imposed resolve of silence, to let his character and his sufferings in the cause of Christ speak for themselves. But in doing so, he makes it clear that he waives all authority of one who speaks in the Lord. Speaking simply as a frail man, he pleads that he may receive at least such a hearing as the Corinthians have given to the other men who have tyrannised over them, exploited them, even buffeted them. If such high-handed arrogance as they have practised be what they mean by strength, then he admits (ironically adding to my disgrace) that he had been weak. The passage which follows (2 Corinthians 11:22 to...

THE PERIL OF SEDUCTION (2 Corinthians 11:1-6)...