2 Corinthians 1:8

For we would not have you ignorant brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life.

Which befell us in Asia ... Although it is impossible for us to know exactly what it was that befell Paul in Asia, it is as Hughes said, that a commentator "is bound to examine such information as the text affords."[15]

THE AFFLICTION IN ASIA

McGarvey followed the reasoning of such commentators as Calvin, Paley, Olshausen and others in identifying this affliction as the riot at Ephesus, described by Luke (Acts 19:23-20:1). However, the narrative in Acts appears to indicate that Paul escaped without any suffering at all. Furthermore, "I would not have you ignorant" in this verse seems to say that the knowledge of this affliction would be news at Corinth; and as Ephesus was only 200 miles from Corinth, we may not suppose that such a riot as that described in Acts would have been unknown at Corinth. The intercourse between the two cities was too constant and sustained for that.

Tertullian authored the earliest comment that has come down through history; and he stated that Paul in this passage referred to his fighting wild beasts at Ephesus, stating that Paul "enumerated it to induce an unfaltering belief in the resurrection of the flesh."[16] Besides the question of whether or not Paul's fighting wild beasts was physical or metaphorical, there is also the fact that Paul had already mentioned that episode (whatever it was) in the first epistle (15:32).

Charles Hodge thought Paul might have referred in general terms to "plots and attempts against Paul's life." Windisch thought it may have been an attempt to lynch Paul. Hoffmann applied the reference to a shipwreck (2 Corinthians 11:25), one not reported by Luke. Stanley and Rendell suppose that it may have been the agonizing anxiety concerning the state of the church in Corinth. Many commentators explain it as some terrible illness from which Paul recovered.

Among so many learned opinions, another, whether learned or not, can do no harm. It is believed by this writer that reference is here made to some terrible danger from which Paul was delivered, but which remains unreported in the New Testament. That such an awful danger did in fact exist is proved by Paul's crediting Priscilla and Aquila with having saved his life, placing the Gentile churches of the whole Roman empire in debt to them for "laying down their own necks" on his behalf (Romans 16:4). This event of their saving Paul's life was extensively known among the Gentile churches everywhere; and when Paul later arrived at Corinth, he surely gave them all the details of it. Just why the details were not given for us is not known; but there was possibly something sensitive about it that made it dangerous, at least for a while, to elaborate the details. See my Commentary on Romans, p. 512.

[15] Philip E. Hughes, op. cit., p. 16.

[16] Tertullian, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, On the Resurrection of the Flesh, 48(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957), Vol. III, p. 582.