2 Corinthians 11 32

2 Corinthians 11:32 kjv

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

2 Corinthians 11:32 nkjv

In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;

2 Corinthians 11:32 niv

In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me.

2 Corinthians 11:32 esv

At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me,

2 Corinthians 11:32 nlt

When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.

2 Corinthians 11 verses

2 Corinthians 11 32 Meaning

2 Corinthians 11:32 describes Paul's perilous escape from Damascus, where an official representing King Aretas was actively attempting to arrest him. This specific incident is cited by Paul as a tangible example of the extreme dangers, persecutions, and physical weaknesses he endured for the sake of the Gospel. It underscores his consistent theme throughout 2 Corinthians: true apostolic authority is validated not by worldly boasting or strength, but by suffering and God's miraculous deliverance.

2 Corinthians 11 32 Context

This verse occurs within a section of 2 Corinthians (chapters 10-12) where Paul is compelled to defend his apostolic authority against "super-apostles" or false teachers. These individuals boasted in worldly credentials and challenged Paul's ministry. Paul adopts a strategy of "boasting like a fool" to counter their self-exaltation. He boasts not in eloquence, worldly power, or personal achievements, but paradoxically, in his sufferings, weaknesses, and humiliation, because it is through these that God's power is most evident. 2 Corinthians 11:32 is a concrete, personal illustration of such a peril.

Historically, this event took place relatively early in Paul's post-conversion ministry, following his conversion experience outside Damascus (Acts 9). After preaching powerfully in Damascus and astounding many, the Jews there plotted to kill him. Damascus, though part of the Roman province of Syria, experienced periods of Nabatean influence. Aretas IV Philopatris, the Nabatean king, likely held significant authority or control over the city, or at least its Nabatean population and trade routes, during parts of his reign (c. 9 BC – AD 40). The "governor" was his ethnarch, an official exercising authority on his behalf. The threat Paul faced was serious and organized, stemming initially from Jewish opposition that leveraged political power against him.

2 Corinthians 11 32 Word analysis

• In Damascus (Δαμασκῷ - Damaskō): A significant ancient city, the place of Paul's conversion and initial ministry after encountering the risen Christ. It became a site of both miraculous encounter and intense early persecution for Paul.
• the governor (ὁ ἐθνάρχης - ho ethnarchēs): This Greek term denotes an "ethnarch," meaning a ruler of a nation or a significant population group. It signifies a high-ranking official representing a specific people, in this case, the Nabateans under King Aretas, highlighting a legitimate political authority.
• under King Aretas (Ἀρέτα τοῦ βασιλέως - Areta tou basileōs): Refers to Aretas IV Philopatris, the King of Nabatea. His reign is a historically datable period, and his involvement provides strong external validation for Paul's account, linking biblical events to established historical figures.
• was guarding the city of the Damascenes (ἐφρούρει τὴν πόλιν τῶν Δαμασκηνῶν - ephrourourei tēn polin tōn Damaskēnōn): The imperfect tense of ephrourourei (was guarding) suggests a continuous, active surveillance. This indicates an ongoing, diligent effort to secure the city's access points, likely specifically aimed at capturing Paul. "City of the Damascenes" emphasizes the target was Paul within their jurisdiction.
• to arrest me (πιάσαι με - piasai me): piasai means "to seize," "to apprehend," or "to lay hold of." This direct and aggressive verb clearly states the hostile intent: not merely to remove Paul but to capture and detain him, posing an imminent and grave threat to his freedom and life.
• Words-group analysis:
  • The governor under King Aretas: This phrase immediately establishes the authoritative, political, and therefore extremely dangerous nature of the threat. This was not merely a random mob, but a coordinated effort by state-level power, highlighting the seriousness of Paul's persecution.
  • Was guarding the city... to arrest me: This emphasizes the focused and deliberate nature of the opposition Paul faced. The ongoing surveillance and clear objective of capture underscore the grave peril and the active measures taken by his adversaries, requiring a non-heroic escape method, an aspect Paul ironically emphasizes to make his point about God's strength in weakness.

2 Corinthians 11 32 Bonus section

• Dating Paul's Ministry: This verse provides one of the crucial anchor points for dating events in Paul's life and the early church. King Aretas IV reigned from approximately 9 BC to AD 40. This historical detail places Paul's escape from Damascus within this specific window, suggesting his conversion occurred around AD 34-36. Such historical alignment with extra-biblical sources significantly bolsters the Bible's reliability.
• Paul's Consistent Theme of Weakness: This seemingly simple verse encapsulates a major theme of Paul’s letters, especially 2 Corinthians: the paradox of strength in weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10). The ignominious method of escape—being lowered in a basket—is not a heroic act but a testament to Paul's desperate situation, and by extension, God's intervention. Paul frequently uses such examples to counter any notion that his ministry was successful due to personal prowess, instead crediting God alone.
• Cooperation between Opponents: The narrative implies a dangerous collaboration: the initial plot against Paul came from the Jews (Acts 9:23-25), who then seemingly pressured the Nabatean governor (Aretas's ethnarch) to act against him. This illustrates the complex web of religious and political opposition that early Christians faced, where local religious hostility could quickly escalate into state-sanctioned persecution.

2 Corinthians 11 32 Commentary

2 Corinthians 11:32 is more than a historical anecdote; it serves as a powerful testament to the authenticity of Paul's apostolic ministry through the lens of suffering. While his opponents boasted of worldly attainments and persuasive speech, Paul humbly recounts his escape from Damascus – being lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall, an undignified act of sheer survival. This very act, requiring him to rely on others and on God's protection, directly counters the worldly definition of power and success. It showcases how Paul, though a target of a powerful king's ethnarch, found divine protection and enablement in his profound weakness. It is through such physical vulnerability and the intervention of Providence that Paul argued for his legitimate calling, embodying the truth that "My strength is made perfect in weakness." This perspective encourages believers to recognize that their genuine commitment to Christ often involves trials and humble dependence, rather than always visible triumph. For instance, just as a shepherd relies on protective, albeit subtle, measures to guard his flock, God's protection of His servants may manifest in hidden or undignified escapes, underscoring reliance on Him alone.