Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:26

"[in] journeyings often, [in] perils of rivers, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils from [my] countrymen, [in] perils from the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;" — 2 Corinthians 11:26 (ASV)

In journeyings often. Of course, this meant being subject to the fatigue, toil, and danger that such a mode of life involves.

In perils of waters. This refers to being in danger of losing my life at sea, or by floods, or by crossing streams.

Of robbers. Many of the countries through which he travelled, especially Arabia, were then infested with robbers, as they are now. 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 travelled.

By my 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 heathen. By those who did not have the true religion. Several instances of his danger from this source are mentioned in the Acts.

In the city. In cities, such as Derbe, Lystra, Philippi, Jerusalem, Ephesus, and so on.

In the wilderness. In the desert, where he would be exposed to ambushes, wild beasts, or 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 men or in the solitude and loneliness of the desert.

In the sea. (2 Corinthians 11:25).

Among false brethren. This was the crowning danger and trial to Paul, as it is to all others. One can better bear danger by land and water, among robbers and in deserts, than one can bear to have one's confidence abused and be subjected to the actions and deceptions of spies on one's 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 but who had sought every possible opportunity to expose and destroy him. Perhaps he has here a delicate reference to the danger he apprehended from the false brethren in the church at Corinth.