17. What I am saying is not said according to God, but as if in foolishness, in this matter of glorying.
18. Since so many glory according to the flesh, I will glory also.
19. For you freely accept the foolish, though you yourselves claim to be wise.
20. For you permit it when someone guides you into servitude, even if he devours you, even if he takes from you, even if he is extolled, even if he strikes you repeatedly on the face.
21. I speak according to disgrace, as if we had been weak in this regard. In this matter, (I speak in foolishness) if anyone dares, I dare also.
22. They are Hebrews; so am I. They are Israelites; so am I. They are the offspring of Abraham; so am I.
23. They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as if I were less wise); more so am I: with many more labors, with numerous imprisonments, with wounds beyond measure, with frequent mortifications.
24. On five occasions, I received forty stripes, less one, from the Jews.
25. Three times, I was beaten with rods. One time, I was stoned. Three times, I was shipwrecked. For a night and a day, I was in the depths of the sea.
26. I have made frequent journeys, through dangerous waters, in danger of robbers, in danger from my own nation, in danger from the Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger in the sea, in danger from false brothers,
27. with hardships and difficulties, with much vigilance, in hunger and thirst, with frequent fasts, in cold and nakedness,
28. and, in addition to these things, which are external: there is my daily earnestness and solicitude for all the churches.
29. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not being burned?
30. If it is necessary to glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weaknesses.
31. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32. At Damascus, the governor of the nation under Aretas the king, watched over the city of the Damascenes, so as to apprehend me.
33. And, through a window, I was let down along the wall in a basket; and so I escaped his hands.