That’s what Paul reported in 2nd Corinthians 11:25.

In beautiful Elizabethan English, King James Version, “thrice I suffered shipwreck.”

The number “thrice” is “tris” in Greek, simply meaning “three.” And “two” is “duo,” no surprises there.

The verb here is “suffered shipwreck” and is spelled “nauageo.” In Greek “naus” is “ship,” derived from “nao,” meaning “to float.” Then the suffix, “ago,” means “to lead, bring, guide.” The only other time it is used in the New Testament it is translated “made shipwreck.” See 1st Timothy 1:19 where Paul tells of some who have forsaken their faith and “made shipwreck” of their lives.

Wow!

But the interesting thing to me is that the three “accidents” to which Paul here refers are NOT mentioned in the Book of Acts. Not a single one of them! The shipwreck that is described there is LATER in Paul’s life than the events enumerated in our Text! Years afterward!

Why shipwrecks, so many anyway?

Unsophisticated navigational aids, back then.

Poor quality of workmanship, at times, regarding shipbuilding itself.

Crew capabilities even had an impact.

And I must add, weather!

Plus … Paul traveled a lot by ship.

Note … Paul is not complaining here, about his “hard” life!

Far from that.

He is “glorying” in the fact he was allowed to suffer for Jesus’ Sake!

And through them all, every broken ship, God delivered His man to preach yet again!

As I write these words this morning (July 7, 2016) I have the car packed and am about to begin a journey myself. To go preach God’s Word in a time of Revival.

I am so glad we have a God Who cares for us!

Oh, to stay faithful to the One Who loved us and gave His Life for us and saved us!

Paul certainly did.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

In 2nd Corinthians 11:25 Paul wrote, “Once I was stoned.” He could have as well written: “Once I have been stoned … so far.” Because his ministry was only 1/2 to 2/3 over as he wrote those words.

The verb “was stoned” is “lithazo,” meaning “pelted with rocks.” Yes, “lithos” is the Greek noun for “stone.” As in the English word “monolith.” And what is a monolith? “A large single upright block of stone, especially one shaped into or serving as a pillar or monument.” The prefix “mono” means “one.”

Almost always “stoning” someone, even until he or she was dead, was a punishment inflicted by the Jews. And even that punishment is advocated by Moses, in the Old Testament.

Here’s an example. “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; and they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city SHALL STONE HIM WITH STONES, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” Deuteronomy 21:18-21

Severe indeed!

But not many rebellious sons either!

Meanwhile, back to Paul.

When was he stoned?

At a city called Lystra.

Here is Luke’s account of the event. “And there came thither certain (Gospel-hating) Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded (agitated) the people, and, HAVING STONED PAUL, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.” Acts 14:19-20

I personally believe Paul indeed died!

That certainly was the intent of the mob that day!

Suffering for Jesus’ Sake, for the cause of the gospel of the grace of God!

Yet, Paul remained faithful.

On toward other cities … to preach the Word!

I wonder that day if Paul thought about the stoning of Stephen? A death in which the future Apostle was complicit. “Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And THEY STONED STEPHEN, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he FELL ASLEEP (DIED). And SAUL WAS CONSENTING unto his death.” Acts 7:57 through Acts 8:1

Then I wonder too if Paul remembered the first words he ever heard from a fellow believer after his salvation experience? God commissioned a man named Ananias to got o Paul and said … “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I WILL SHOW HIM HOW GREAT THINGS HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAME’S SAKE.” Acts 9:15-16 … was Paul “reaping” what he had “sown,” persecuting the Church so many years?

And I think that perhaps God turned a “tragic situation” (Paul being stoned) into a spiritual victory (maybe a trip to Heaven, to Glory)! As is described in 2nd Corinthians 12:1-5. “It is not expedient for me (Paul) doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and REVELATIONS of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; such an one (Paul, many believe) caught up to THE THRID HEAVEN. And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; how that he was caught up into PARADISE, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory.” Sounds just like the Lord, doesn’t it? (They meant it for evil, God meant it for good!)

And look at Paul’s bravery … in the face of such persecution. After preaching elsewhere (after the stoning) Paul and his company … “taught many, they RETURNED AGAIN to LYSTRA, and to Iconium, and Antioch.” Back again!

Paul apparently felt that areas of great “opportunity” would also be areas of great “opposition!” As in 1st Corinthians 16:9 … “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

The word is “litany,” a noun. It is defined as “a repetitive recital, a series, a list.”

And Paul is here in our Text (2 Corinthians 11:24-31) writing such a thing. About all he has suffered for Jesus’ sake, through the first half (some say two-thirds) of his ministry, anyway.

And today Paul remembers that he had been: “beaten with rods,” three times in fact. The King James Text words it: “Thrice was I beaten with rods.”

Paul begins the list with some enumerations! Let me show you. Watch the numbers he uses. “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.” He has counted them all!

To be “beaten with rods” translates a Greek verb, “rabdizo,” found only twice in the Bible (as a verb). It means “to hit with long, stiff sticks.” Yes, “rabdos” (found 12 times as a noun) means: “staff, scepter, stick, branch (tree limb).”

The verb is written in the passive voice, of course. A strong Roman soldier delivered the whipping. A man trained in how to most intensely inflict pain.

Yes, if the Jews “whipped” Paul (which they had done 5 times already, yesterday’s lesson) they would have used a “scourge,” not a staff. They also would have limited the punishment to 39 lashes.

But not the Romans!

History indicates that many men died from these Roman beatings!

Three times Paul had so suffered, endured.

And only one of these incidents is recorded in the Book of Acts. The beating at Philippi, Paul and Silas being the prisoners. (None of the “forty stripes save one” whippings is recorded in Acts!)

The verb “rabdizo” is specifically used in Acts 16:22. “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded TO BEAT them.”

The next verse: “And when they had laid MANY (not limited to forty) stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely.” You know the rest of the story, the earthquake and conversion of the jailor!

Oh, the price Paul paid to serve Jesus!

Scars on his back, for life.

No doubt pain when his body was cold (“bring my coat”).

Aching ribs and muscles (broken and torn during the beatings).

Yes, Paul joyfully keeps serving our Lord!

What an example.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul once enumerated the trials he had faced as a Christian.

At least until the mid-point of his ministry.

And first on that list was the Apostle’s being beaten “by the Jews!”

His own people, by nationality anyway, his blood kin.

Our Text is 2nd Corinthians 11:24-31. With today’s emphasis being verse 24 itself: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.”

There are some in the “Bible Study World” who feel that Paul’s statement is anti-Semitic. As if … those HATEFUL JEWS have attacked me again. But that is certainly NOT the case!

Paul loved his own people, the Israelites. In fact, though God commissioned him to be (specifically) “the Apostle to the Gentiles,” (as in 2nd Timothy 1:11 … “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles,”) Paul never could completely turn his heart toward the Gentile “mission field!” Because … he could not get his heart away from the Jews!

Let me add here Romans 11:13. “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,” Paul’s own words.

Even 1st Timothy 2:7. “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

But … a remnant of the Jews indeed hated Paul, those who reacted to the Gospel of the Grace of God (Those who still felt that the Law of Moses should be elevated about the Cross and Blood of Jesus.)

And these legalists are the ones who brought about Paul’s “lashes!”

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.”

Five times, beaten with 39 stripes!

The Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 25:2, allowed 40 stripes, when punishing a criminal. But no more than that. So, the supercilious Pharisees in Jesus’ day would only inflict 39 stripes, lest they violate one of Moses. statutes!

And this happened to Paul 5 different times!

The Book of Acts does not record them all either.

Think of the pain!

Think of the embarrassment!

The shame!

The scars! No wonder Paul could later write: “I bear in my body the marks (scars) of the Lord Jesus.” Galatians 6:16, because Paul preached Jesus, and was beaten!

And we complain if the weather is bad … on our way to Church?

We moan if someone talks about us?

I deeply admire Paul.

And we have just begun the list!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I have long been interested in the list you’re about to read. A catalogue of a godly Christian’s “sufferings!” And the Holy Spirit led Paul to record these events about mid-way through the great Apostle’s Ministry! No where near the end of his years of service … so we must conclude that much more difficulty followed this litany, this compilation!

Wow!

Now to our Text for the next few days. “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.” Word for word, 2nd Corinthians 11:24-31.

Like the hymn-writer, “I stand amazed.”

It’s in my heart, beginning with our next Lesson, to study these events (best we can with the data available) and draw conclusions from them, information to both teach us more about this man Paul … and to help us better live for Jesus (during the hard times too) our Lord and Saviour.

Shortly after Paul was saved God asked a man named Ananias to go see the future Apostle. The Lord had already informed a rather fearful (reluctant) Ananias that Paul was to be a “special vessel,” an unusual servant of God. Quoting God now, Paul is “to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” What a witness! Then is immediately added: “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Paul will “suffer” for Jesus’ Sake!

And indeed he did!

But then again, Paul felt that every Christian would suffer for his or her Lord! “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2nd Timothy 3:11

Perhaps as we study our little “list” here, the Holy Spirit will teach us numerous principles about enduring these inevitable “hard times” in the Christian life.

An unusual series.

But maybe, a needed series.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I might just add this truth. Christians around the world (yes, even in 2016) are suffering for our Cause, for our Christ, at maybe unprecedented rates. If current statistics are right, around 400 Believers per day are being martyred for their faith … right here on planet earth.

No wonder the last prayer of the Bible is: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20