Galatians 11

20  Through their teaching, the false apostles were bringing the Corinthians into bondage to Satan. The Corinthians were being “enslaved.” The false apostles were turning the Corinthians away from their freedom in Christ (see Galatians 5:1).

By taking payment for their teaching, these false apostles were “exploiting” and “taking advantage” of the Corinthians, Paul says. By their false teaching, these false apostles were, in a sense, “slapping” the Corinthians in the face.

21 Paul here says sarcastically: “I am too weak to do what those false apostles are doing; I am not strong and bold like they are.” Paul means by this that he himself has not exploited or enslaved the Corinthians in any way. This shows how “weak” Paul is!

But if these false apostles are going to boast about themselves, then Paul is going to boast about himself. He is ready to prove that they are no better than he is. He will speak in the same proud and foolish way they do!

22 The false apostles boasted that they were true Hebrews—that is, Israelites (Jews). Paul says: “I also am a true Jew.”

23 The false apostles claimed to be apostles of Christ (verse 13). But they had not suffered for Christ the way Paul had. Paul was a true apostle of Christ, because he had suffered for Him.

According to the book of Acts, Paul was imprisoned at least four times (Acts 16:23; 22:29; 23:35; 28:16). Some historians say that Paul was imprisoned as many as seven times.

Paul’s floggings are mentioned here in verse 24 and in Acts 16:22-23.

Paul was exposed to death again and again; that is, he constantly faced the risk of death (see Acts 14:19; Romans 8:36; 1 Corinthians 15:30-31; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

24 According to Deuteronomy 25:2-3, a criminal was never to receive more than forty lashes with a whip. Therefore, so that they would never accidentally (by miscounting) give more than forty lashes, the Jews always used to give forty lashes minus one—that is, thirty-nine lashes.

Jesus warned His disciples that they would be flogged by the Jews (Mark 13:9). Before he met the risen Christ, Paul himselfhad caused Christians to be flogged in the Jewish synagogues (Acts 26:11).

25 The Jews used to beat people with whips. The Gentiles (the Greeks and Romans) beat people with rods (Acts 16:22).

The Jews carried out the death sentence against criminals by stoning them (Leviticus 24:16; Acts 7:57-58). Paul’s stoning is mentioned in Acts 14:19.

26 Paul was constantly in danger (see 2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Notice that the last danger Paul mentions is the danger from false brothers. Many Christians can testify from their own experience that this is the most grievous danger of all (Psalm 55:12-14).

27 In verse 26, Paul has mentioned various dangers. Here in verse 27, Paul mentions some of the hardships he has faced. From this we can see how much Paul suffered. Paul had not only experienced hunger and thirst, but he had also been cold and naked (see 1 Corinthians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:9).

28 In addition to these “outward” dangers and hardships, Paul experienced the “inward” pressure of … concern for all the churches. Just as a father is concerned for his children, so Paul was concerned for the churches. Paul worried most of all about the false apostles and teachers—the ferocious wolves—who were always trying to enter the church (see Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29).

29 Here again we can see inside Paul’s heart. The Corinthians were like Paul’s spiritual children. If they are weak, then Paul feels their weakness. If they are led into sin, then Paul will inwardly burn with anger against the person who led them into sin.

30 Paul does not boast of his own strength. Instead, he boasts of the things that show [his] weakness—such as his sufferings, his worries, his dangers, his hunger and thirst.

Paul does not boast in himself. Yes, he told the Corinthians: I worked harder than all of them. But he quickly added: … yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). There are times when it is appropriate for Christians to “boast” of what God has done in their lives. But always we must boast of what God has done, not what we have done.

31 Paul’s enemies in Corinth may say that Paul is lying about all his sufferings and hardships. But God knows that he is not lying.

32-33 Here Paul remembers still another experience, and so he mentions it in these verses. This was an important event in Paul’s life. Paul had just met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus,²³ and had been converted (see Acts 9:1-8). After he arrived in Damascus and was baptized, Paul began to preach about Christ. But he had originally gone to Damascus to arrest and punish the followers of Christ. What a dramatic change had taken place in his life! When he had set out for Damascus, he was a proud Jew searching for Christians. But when he left Damascus, he was a humble Christian hiding in a basket! (see Acts 9:20-25).