Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:27

"[in] labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." — 2 Corinthians 11:27 (ASV)

From specific hardships (vv.24–25) Paul turns to the dangers he confronted (v.26) and the privations he endured (v.27; cf. 6:5). In speaking of “danger from rivers” and “danger from bandits,” he could be thinking especially of crossing the Taurus range between Perga in Pamphylia and Antioch in Phrygia near Pisidia (Acts 13:14; Acts 14:24), a journey made hazardous by the mountain torrents and the predatory Pisidian highlanders. Acts records several examples of early Jewish plots against Paul’s life (e.g., Acts 9:23, 29; 14:19; 18:12) but only two incidents involving “danger from Gentiles” (Acts 16:16–40; Acts 19:23–41). “Danger from false brothers” may point to Paul’s being betrayed to local authorities by counterfeit Christians and the resulting reprisals.

Paul’s “sleepless nights” could refer to insomnia because of physical discomfort or illness, but the phrase more likely alludes to voluntary sleeplessness from pressure of work. And Paul may have undertaken some of his voluntary fasts because of his determination not to accept support from the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 9:12, 15, 18; 2 Corinthians 11:7–12).