16 I say again, Let no one think me a fool if otherwise, receive me as a fool, that I may yet glory a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak it not according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of glory. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20 For ye suffer it if anyone brings you into bondage, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes of you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone smites you on the face.
21 I speak as concerning the reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit in that in which another is bold, (I speak foolishly), 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 ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more, in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. 24 Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned; three times I suffered shipwreck, night and day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by those of my nation, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in labour and travail, in many watches, in hunger and thirst, in many fasts, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, my daily combat is the welfare of all the congregations {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}. 29 Who is sick, and I am not sick? who stumbles, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my weakness. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore, knows that I do not lie. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me; 33 and through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall and escaped his hands.