2 Corinthians 6:5

in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings [Instead of weakening his ministry by making it blameworthy, Paul had striven to make it commendable by the patient endurance of all manner of trials. Had he shrunk from enduring these trials, he would have been ill qualified to prescribe for others those rules of duty which called for self-sacrifice, one of which rules he is about to lay down for the Corinthians. Paul specifies three classes of sufferings which he endured, and each class contained three members. In the first three the idea of hindrance predominates, and in the second that of violent opposition, and in the third that of hardship. For a sample of Paul's afflictions see 2 Corinthians 1:4-11. For necessities arising from his poverty, etc., see Acts 20:34; and compare with incidents in his later life; as, Philippians 4:12 and 2 Timothy 4:13. The word "distresses," which forms the climax of the first triplet, means "extreme pressure" and is used to describe one who is jammed in a corner, or so pressed upon by the multitude that he can not move: it is found at 2 Corinthians 4:8. For the "stripes" see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. The only instance of imprisonment of which Luke tells us is found at Acts 16:24. The imprisonments at Jerusalem, Cæsarea and Rome took place after this was written. As to the tumults, they were the normal incidents of Paul's daily life (Acts 13:50; Acts 14:19; Acts 26:22; Acts 17:4-5; Acts 18:12; Acts 19:28; Acts 19:29; Acts 21:27-39; Acts 22:22-23; Acts 23:9-10; Acts 27:42; etc.). As to Paul's wasting labors, see 2 Corinthians 11:28; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Acts 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; Romans 16:12. We may well imagine that so many tumults and such incessant labor would result in many sleepless nights or painful watchings (2 Corinthians 11:27); but Paul also labored at night (Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; etc.). The fastings mentioned were not voluntary, but indicate the unavoidable hunger which came upon him by reason of his incessant ministry. Having rehearsed the sufferings which he endured, the apostle next names six especial gifts or virtues which he manifested while thus enduring];