2 Corinthians 11:26

In journeyings often. Paul seems to have been constantly on the move sowing the seeds of the gospel. He proved himself a true, devoted minister of Christ by continually exposing himself to perils. How different from his Judaizing opponents!

Waters. Literally, “rivers.” There would be few bridges along most of the highways and byways Paul traveled. He would have to ford the rivers. Most of what we know as Asia Minor, Greece, and Macedonia is mountainous, and many an unbridged mountain torrent would constitute a dangerous obstacle.

Robbers. Every road, except perhaps the great Roman highways, was infested with robbers. An example of this is found in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30). His own country of Cilicia, and the whole region round about, was infested with pirates and robbers. A few years before the time of Christ, Rome was compelled to send out an expedition against them under the leadership of Pompey.

Mine own countrymen. Paul’s greatest enemies were those of his own race. In practically all the principal cities where Paul labored, his fiercest opposition came from the Jews. This had been the case at Damascus (Acts 9:23; 2 Cor. 11:32), at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:50, 51), at Iconium (ch. 14:2-5), at Lystra (ch. 14:19, 20), at Thessalonica (ch. 17:5-9), at Beroea (ch. 17:13, 14), at Corinth (ch. 18:12-17), and at Jerusalem (ch. 21:27-31).

Heathen. That is, Gentiles, as at Philippi (Acts 16:19-24) and Ephesus (ch. 19:23-30).

In the city. As, for instance, at Philippi (Acts 16:19-40), at Corinth (ch. 18:12-17), and more recently at Ephesus (ch. 19:23-41).

Wilderness. As, for instance, the thinly populated regions of Galatia and the wild, rugged areas of Cilicia, Macedonia, and Illyricum.

In the sea. See on v. 25.

False brethren. The Judaizers — Christian Jews — were Paul’s most relentless enemies. They constituted the most painful and frustrating peril among all those he had to face (Phil. 3:18).