In tumults In proportion to the calmness and gentleness of Paul's disposition was there the greater excellence displayed in his standing undaunted in the face of tumults; and he takes praise to himself on this account -- that while he regarded tumults with abhorrence, he nevertheless encountered them with bravery. [1] Nor does the praise simply consist in his being unmoved by tumults, (this being commonly found among all riotous persons, [2] ) but in his being thrown into no alarm by tumults that had been stirred up through the fault of others. And, unquestionably, two things are required on the part of ministers of the Gospel -- that they should endeavor to the utmost of their power to maintain peace, and yet on the other hand go forward, undaunted, through the midst of commotions, so as not to turn aside from the right course, though heaven and earth should be mingled. [3] Chrysostom, however, prefers to understand akatastasiais to mean -- frequent expulsions, [4] inasmuch as there afforded him a place of rest. [5] In fastings He does not mean -- hunger arising from destitution, but a voluntary exercise of abstinence. Knowledge may be taken in two senses -- either as meaning doctrine itself, or skill in acting properly and knowingly. The latter appears to me the more likely, as he immediately adds -- the word of truth The Spirit is taken by metonymy, to denote spiritual graces. Frivolous, however, is the cavil of Chrysostom, who infers from this, that the other excellences are peculiar to the Apostle, because he makes mention of the Spirit separately, as if kindness, knowledge, pureness, armor of righteousness, were from any other source, than from the Holy Spirit. He makes mention, however, of the Spirit separately, as a general term in the midst of particular instances. [6] The power of God showed itself in many things -- in magnanimity, in efficacy in the maintaining of the truth, in the propagation of the Gospel, in victory over enemies, and the like.

Footnotes

1 - "D'vne courage magnanime;" -- "With magnanimous heroism."

2 - "Veu que cela est coustumier ... tous mutins de ne s'estonner point quand seditions s'esmeuuent;" -- "As it is customary for all riotous persons to be thrown into no alarm when tumults break out."

3 - A proverbial expression made use of by Virgil. n. I. 133,134 -- Ed.

4 - "L'incommodite de ce qu'il estoit souuent contraint de changer de pays, pource qu' on ne le laissoit en paix en quelque lieu qu'il fust;" -- "The inconvenience of being frequently under the necessity of changing his country, because they did not allow him to be in peace in any place in which he might be."

5 - Semler understands the term in the same sense -- "Quod non licet diu manere et quiescere quasi uno in loco, sed semper periculorum vitandorum causa locum et solum mutare. Iud'i autem faciunt jam infensi et infesti hostes Pauli, ut vel ex actibus Luc' satis patet; Paulus akatastatos, (Jacobi 1:8) dici potest, licet sine animi sui vitio;" -- ("As not being allowed to remain long at rest, as it were, in one place, but always changing his place and soil (for the sake of avoiding dangers.) The Jews were enemies to Paul, so exasperated and deadly, as appears even from Luke's narrative in the Acts, that Paul may be said to have been unstable, (James 1:8,) though without any fault on his part." -- "I agree," says Dr. Bloomfield, "with Theophyl., Schleus., and Leun., that the term refers to that unsettled and wandering kind of life, which, that the Apostle thought very miserable, is plain from his connecting it at 1-Corinthians 4:11, with the endurance of hunger, thirst, and nakedness,(Peinomen kai dipsomen, kai gumneteuomen, kai astatoumen) which passage, indeed, is the best comment on the present, and shows that kopois (labors) must be chiefly understood of his labors at his trade, and nesteiais, (fastings,) of that insufficient support, which labors so interrupted by his ministerial duties, could alone be expected to supply. 'Agrupniais (watchings) seems to refer to the abridgment of his rest by night, to make up for the time expended by day on his ministerial labors." -- Ed.

6 - " 'En pneumati hagio -- 'In demonstration of the Holy Spirit -- so that I showed that the Holy Spirit wrought by me.' It is possible, that in these words, Paul makes an allusion to the charismata, (gifts,) but it seems better, nevertheless, to suppose with Calvin, that he sets genus and species over against each other." -- Billroth. -- Ed.

In stripes - In this verse, Paul proceeds to specifications of what he had been called to endure. In the previous verse, he had spoken of his afflictions in general terms. In this expression, he refers to the fact that he and his fellow-laborers were scourged in the synagogues and cities as if they had been the worst of people. In 2-Corinthians 11:23-25, Paul says that he had been scourged five times by the Jews, and had been thrice beaten with rods. See the notes on that place.
In imprisonments - As at Philippi; Acts 16:24 ff. It was no uncommon thing for the early preachers of Christianity to be imprisoned.
In tumults - Margin, "Tossing to and fro." The Greek word (ἀκαταστασία akatastasia) denotes properly "instability," thence disorder, tumult, commotion. Here it means that in the various tumults and commotions which were produced by the preaching of the gospel, Paul endeavored to act as became a minister of God. Such tumults were excited at Corinth Acts 18:6; at Philippi Acts 16:19-20; at Lystra and Derbe Acts 14:19; at Ephesus Acts 19, and in various other places. The idea is, that if the ministers of religion are assailed by a lawless mob, they are to endeavor to show the spirit of Christ there, and to evince all patience, and to do good even in such a scene. Patience and the Christian spirit may often do more good in such scenes than much preaching would do elsewhere.
In labors - Referring probably to the labors of the ministry, and its incessant duties, and perhaps also to the labors which they performed for their own support, as it is well known that Paul and probably also the other apostles, labored often to support themselves.
In watchings - In wakefulness, or lack of sleep. He probably refers to the fact that in these arduous duties, and in his travels, and in anxious cares for the churches, and for the advancement of religion, he was often deprived of his ordinary rest. He refers to this again in 2-Corinthians 11:27.
In fastings - Referring probably not only to the somewhat frequent fasts to which he voluntarily submitted as acts of devotion, but also to the fact that in his travels, when abroad and among strangers, he was often destitute of food. To such trials, those who traveled as Paul did, among strangers, and without property, would be often compelled to submit; and such trials, almost without number, the religion which we now enjoy has cost. It at first cost the painful life, the toils, the anxieties, and the sufferings of the Redeemer; and it has been propagated and perpetuated amidst the deep sorrows, the sacrifices, and the tears and blood of those who have contributed to perpetuate it on earth. For such a religion, originated, extended, and preserved in such a manner, we can never express suitable gratitude to God. Such a religion we cannot overestimate in value; and for the extension and perpetuity of such a religion, we also should be willing to practice unwearied self denial.

In stripes, in imprisonments - Of these the history of the Acts of the Apostles gives ample testimony; and there were doubtless many instances of persecution in various forms which are not on record.
In tumults - Ακαταστασιαις· Insurrections raised against them because of the Gospel. It is more natural to understand the word thus, than of agitations, or tossings to and fro in consequence of their unsettled state of life; or because of persecution, which obliged them to flee from place to place.
In labors - Both with our own hands to provide for ourselves the necessaries of life, that we might not be chargeable to others; and in labors to spread the Gospel of God through all countries where his providence opened our way.
In watchings - Passing many nights without sleep or rest.
In fastings - Partly constrained through want of food; and partly voluntary, as a means of obtaining an increase of grace both for ourselves and for the Churches.

In stripes, in imprisonments, in (c) tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
(c) In tossing to and fro, finding no place of rest and quietness.

In stripes,.... As the Apostle Paul particularly was, who was thrice beaten with rods, and five times scourged by the Jews with the scourge of forty stripes save one.
In imprisonments; under which are included bonds, in which they often were for the Gospel of Christ:
in tumults; and uproars of the people, when their lives were frequently in imminent danger: or "in tossings to and fro"; being drove from place to place through the fury of their enemies;
in labours; in a laborious ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances; or by labouring with their own hands to supply their necessities:
in watchings; being obliged to work night and day at their hand labour, and in preaching, praying, and singing psalms; which exercises they were often employed in at midnight:
in fastings; by which are meant not voluntary, but involuntary ones, through want of food to eat.

stripes-- (2-Corinthians 11:23-24; Acts 16:23).
imprisonments-- (2-Corinthians 11:23). He had been, doubtless, elsewhere imprisoned besides at Philippi when he wrote this Epistle.
tumults-- (Acts 13:50; Acts 14:5, Acts 14:19; Acts 16:22; and recently Acts 19:23-41).
labours--in the cause of Christ (2-Corinthians 11:23; Romans 16:12).
watchings-- (2-Corinthians 11:27). Sleepless nights.
fastings--The context here refers to his trials, rather than devotional exercises (compare 2-Corinthians 11:27). Thus "foodlessness" would seem to be the sense (compare 1-Corinthians 4:11; Philippians 4:12). But the usual sense of the Greek is fasts, in the strict sense; and in 2-Corinthians 11:27 it is spoken of independently of "hunger and thirst." (Compare Luke 2:37; Acts 10:30; Acts 14:23). However, Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:3, justify the sense, more favored by the context, foodlessness, though a rare use of the word. GAUSSEN remarks "The apostles combine the highest offices with the humblest exterior: as everything in the Church was to be cast in the mould of death and resurrection, the cardinal principle throughout Christianity."

In tumults - The Greek word implies such attacks as a man cannot stand against, but which bear him hither and thither by violence.