A.T. Robertson Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:25

"Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep;" — 2 Corinthians 11:25 (ASV)

Thrice was I beaten with rods (τρις ερραβδισθην). Roman (Gentile) punishment. It was forbidden to Roman citizens by the Lex Porcia, but Paul endured it in Philippi (Acts 16:23,37), the only one of the three named in Acts. First aorist passive of ραβδιζω, from ραβδος, rod, Koine word, in N.T. only here and Ac 16:22 which see.

Once was I stoned (απαξ ελιθασθην). Once for all απαξ means. At Lystra (Acts 14:5–19). On λιθαζω Koine verb from λιθος, see on Ac 5:26.

Thrice I suffered shipwreck (τρις εναυαγησα). First aorist active of ναυαγεω, from ναυαγος, shipwrecked (ναυς, ship, αγνυμ, to break). Old and common verb, in N.T. only here and 1 Timothy 1:19. We know nothing of these. The one told in Ac 27 was much later. What a pity that we have no data for all these varied experiences of Paul.

Night and day (νυχθημερον) Rare word. Papyri give νυκτημαρ with the same idea (night-day).

Have I been in the deep (εν τω βυθω πεποιηκα). Vivid dramatic perfect active indicative of ποιεω, "I have done a night and day in the deep." The memory of it survives like a nightmare. Βυθος is old word (only here in N.T.) for bottom, depth of the sea, then the sea itself. Paul does not mean that he was a night and day under the water, not a Jonah experience, only that he was far out at sea and shipwrecked. This was one of the three shipwrecks-already named.