2 Corinthians 11:26

To be subjected to the snares of false and pretended brethren — this is another and most difficult kind of temptation, of which David also complained: "nor is it one who hates me who magnifies himself against me — from him I would hide myself; …

Having listed the evils inflicted from without, he then lists those he voluntarily assumed, when he says, on frequent journeys: first, external evils; secondly, internal evils (v. 28). He describes the external evils: first as to the evils that occur on journeys; secondly, as to …

What does the fact that you suffered shipwrecks have to do with the Gospel? He suffered shipwrecks while making long sea voyages for the sake of the Gospel. He spent a night and a day in the deep. Some, however, say that after the danger …

In journeying often,....

Paul was a stranger to wealth and plenty, power and pleasure, preferment and ease; he was in watchings often, and exposed to hunger and thirst; in fastings often, it may be out of necessity; and endured cold and nakedness,

In journeyings often - He means the particular journeys which he took to different places, for the purpose of propagating the Gospel. In perils of waters - Exposed to great dangers in crossing rivers; for of rivers the original, ποταμων, must be understood. Of robbers - Judea itself, and perhaps every other country, was grievously infested by banditti of this kind; and no doubt the apostle in his frequent peregrinations was often attacked, but, being poor and having nothing to lose, he passed unhurt, though not without great danger.

So the traveller Sport lost his life. robbers--perhaps in his journey from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Pisidia was notorious for robbers; as indeed were all the mountains that divided the high land of Asia from the sea. the heathen--Gentiles. in the city--Damascus, Ac 9:24, 25;

In journeyings often - Of course subject to the fatigue, toil, and danger which such a mode of life involves. In perils of waters - In danger of losing my life at sea, or by floods, or by crossing streams. Of robbers - Many of the countries, especially Arabia, through which he traveled, were then infested, as they are now, with robbers. It is not impossible or improbable that he was often attacked and his life endangered. It is still unsafe to travel in many of the places through which he traveled. By mine own countrymen - The Jews. They often scourged him; laid wait for him and were ready to put him to death. They had deep enmity against him as an apostate, and he was in constant danger of being put to death by them. By the pagan - By those who had not the true religion. Several instances of his danger from this quarter are mentioned in the Acts . In the city - In cities, as in Derbe. Lystra, Philippi, Jerusalem, Ephesus, etc. In the wilderness - In the desert, where he would be exposed to ambushes, or to wild beasts, or to hunger and want. Instances of this are not recorded in the Acts , but no one can doubt that they occurred, The idea here is, that he had met with constant danger wherever he was, whether in the busy haunts of people or in the solitude and loneliness of the desert. In the sea - see 2Co 11:25. Among false brethren - This was the crowning danger and trial to Paul, as it is to all others. A man can better bear danger by land and water, among robbers and in deserts, than he can bear to have his confidence abused, and to be subjected to the action and the arts of spies upon his conduct. Who these were he has not informed us. He mentions it as the chief trial to which he had been exposed, that he had met those who pretended to be his friends, and who yet had sought every possible opportunity to expose and destroy him. […]