2 Corinthians 11:22-33 - Pre-Eminent In Labor And Suffering
It has been truly said that this enumeration represents a life which up to that hour had been without precedent in the history of the world. Self-devotion at particular moments or for some special cause had been often witnessed before; but a self-devotion involving such sacrifices and extending over at least fourteen years, in the interests of mankind at large, was up to that time a thing unknown. The lives of missionaries and philanthropists in later times may have paralleled his experiences; but Paul did all this, and was the first to do it.
The biography of the Apostle, as told by Luke, comes greatly short of this marvelous epitome. Of the facts alluded to only two-the stoning and one of the Roman scourgings-are mentioned in the book of the Acts; from which we gather that the book is, after all, but a fragmentary record, and that the splendid deeds of the disciples and apostles of that first age will be known only when the Lamb Himself recites them from His Book. But even this enumeration omits all that the Apostle suffered after the writing of this Epistle, including, of course, the sufferings between his arrest and his appearance before Nero. [source]
Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 11
1Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, he enters into a forced commendation of himself, 5of his equality with the chief apostles, 7of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any charge to them; 13showing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative; 23and in the service of Christ, and in all kinds of sufferings for his ministry, far superior
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 11:24
Five times received I forty stripes save one [πεντακις τεσσερακοντα παρα μιαν ελαβον] The Acts and the Epistles are silent about these Jewish floggings (Matthew 27:36). See note on Luke 12:47 for omission of plēgas (stripes). Thirty-nine lashes was the rule for fear of a miscount (Deuteronomy 25:1-3). Cf. Josephus (Ant. IV. 8, 1, 21). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 11:24
Acts 16:23Many stripes [πολλας πληγας] The Jewish law was forty stripes save one (2 Corinthians 11:24). The Roman custom depended on the caprice of the judge and was a terrible ordeal. It was the custom to inflict the stripes on the naked body (back) as Livy 2.5 says: “Missique lictores ad sumendum supplicium, nudatos virgis caedunt.” On πληγας plēgas (from πλησσω plēssō to strike a blow) See note on Luke 10:30; and notes on Luke 12:47. The jailor (τωι δεσμοπυλακι tōi desmophulaki). Late word (δεσμοσ πυλαχ desmosαρχιδεσμοπυλαχ phulax keeper of bonds), in the N.T. only here (Acts 16:23,Acts 16:27,Acts 16:36). The lxx has the word ασπαλως τηρειν archidesmophulax (Genesis 39:21-23). Chrysostom calls this jailor Stephanus, he was of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15). To keep safely Present active infinitive, to keep on keeping safely, perhaps “as dangerous political prisoners” (Rackham). He had some rank and was not a mere turnkey. [source]
Acts 9:23Took counsel together [συνεβουλευσαντο] First aorist (effective) middle indicative of συνβουλευω sunbouleuō old and common verb for counselling Things had reached a climax. It was worse than before he left for Arabia. Paul was now seeing the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus about him (Acts 9:16). To kill him (ανελειν αυτον anelein auton). Second aorist (effective) active infinitive of αναιρεω anaireō to take up, to make away with, to kill (Luke 23:32; Acts 12:1, etc.). The infinitive expresses purpose here as is done in Acts 9:24 by οπως hopōs and the aorist active subjunctive of the same verb (ανελωσιν anelōsin). Saul now knew what Stephen had suffered at his hands as his own life was in peril in the Jewish quarter of Damascus. It was a picture of his old self. He may even have been scourged here (2 Corinthians 11:24). [source]
Acts 9:23To kill him [ανελειν αυτον] Second aorist (effective) active infinitive of αναιρεω anaireō to take up, to make away with, to kill (Luke 23:32; Acts 12:1, etc.). The infinitive expresses purpose here as is done in Acts 9:24 by οπως hopōs and the aorist active subjunctive of the same verb Saul now knew what Stephen had suffered at his hands as his own life was in peril in the Jewish quarter of Damascus. It was a picture of his old self. He may even have been scourged here (2 Corinthians 11:24). [source]
What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 11:24 mean?
From[the] Jewsfive timesforty [lashes]minusoneI received
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 11:24
The Acts and the Epistles are silent about these Jewish floggings (Matthew 27:36). See note on Luke 12:47 for omission of plēgas (stripes). Thirty-nine lashes was the rule for fear of a miscount (Deuteronomy 25:1-3). Cf. Josephus (Ant. IV. 8, 1, 21). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 11:24
The Jewish law was forty stripes save one (2 Corinthians 11:24). The Roman custom depended on the caprice of the judge and was a terrible ordeal. It was the custom to inflict the stripes on the naked body (back) as Livy 2.5 says: “Missique lictores ad sumendum supplicium, nudatos virgis caedunt.” On πληγας plēgas (from πλησσω plēssō to strike a blow) See note on Luke 10:30; and notes on Luke 12:47. The jailor (τωι δεσμοπυλακι tōi desmophulaki). Late word (δεσμοσ πυλαχ desmosαρχιδεσμοπυλαχ phulax keeper of bonds), in the N.T. only here (Acts 16:23, Acts 16:27, Acts 16:36). The lxx has the word ασπαλως τηρειν archidesmophulax (Genesis 39:21-23). Chrysostom calls this jailor Stephanus, he was of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15). To keep safely Present active infinitive, to keep on keeping safely, perhaps “as dangerous political prisoners” (Rackham). He had some rank and was not a mere turnkey. [source]
First aorist (effective) middle indicative of συνβουλευω sunbouleuō old and common verb for counselling Things had reached a climax. It was worse than before he left for Arabia. Paul was now seeing the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus about him (Acts 9:16). To kill him (ανελειν αυτον anelein auton). Second aorist (effective) active infinitive of αναιρεω anaireō to take up, to make away with, to kill (Luke 23:32; Acts 12:1, etc.). The infinitive expresses purpose here as is done in Acts 9:24 by οπως hopōs and the aorist active subjunctive of the same verb (ανελωσιν anelōsin). Saul now knew what Stephen had suffered at his hands as his own life was in peril in the Jewish quarter of Damascus. It was a picture of his old self. He may even have been scourged here (2 Corinthians 11:24). [source]
Second aorist (effective) active infinitive of αναιρεω anaireō to take up, to make away with, to kill (Luke 23:32; Acts 12:1, etc.). The infinitive expresses purpose here as is done in Acts 9:24 by οπως hopōs and the aorist active subjunctive of the same verb Saul now knew what Stephen had suffered at his hands as his own life was in peril in the Jewish quarter of Damascus. It was a picture of his old self. He may even have been scourged here (2 Corinthians 11:24). [source]