For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia: that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 8. That we were weary even of life. [2] The Greek seems to imply the condition of one, who knows not what way to turn himself, seeing no prospect to avoid the dangers. Witham.—The sufferings which we underwent in Asia were so great, that we despaired of escaping even with our life. We were in daily expectation of death; like the criminal, who has been condemned to death, we had no hopes of escaping, but we trusted in God, who has delivered us from all danger, by your intercession, verse 11. He alludes to the tumult raised at Ephesus, and other afflictions which befell him on that account, which, though not mentioned in the Acts, (chapter 19:24, and so forth) were of such a nature as to make him weary of life. Saint John Chrysostom
The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”