Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 4:12

"and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;" — 1 Corinthians 4:12 (ASV)

And labour.—While at Ephesus, from where this letter was written, the Apostle supported himself by working with Aquila and Priscilla at tent-making. This labour was no recreation or pastime for St. Paul; it was hard and earnest work. (See 1 Thessalonians 2:8–9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8.) We may conclude that this labour was made more excessive by the Apostle’s characteristic generosity to others, from the expression used in his farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17–38): Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

Being reviled, we bless.—A striking contrast to the way in which the Corinthians would act under similar circumstances, and yet a literal obedience to the teaching of the Master (Matthew 5:39; Matthew 5:44). Thus the Apostle became, in the eyes of the world, a fool for Christ’s sake.