John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. In stripes , etc..] 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offer of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the prope time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know no what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a da of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in ever thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patienc in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper an behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm the against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men withou pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of suc differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variet of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligentl employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 PREP πληγαις 4127 N-DPF εν 1722 PREP φυλακαις 5438 N-DPF εν 1722 PREP ακαταστασιαις 181 N-DPF εν 1722 PREP κοποις 2873 N-DPM εν 1722 PREP αγρυπνιαις 70 N-DPF εν 1722 PREP νηστειαις 3521 N-DPF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Imprisonments (fulakaiv). See on Acts v. 21.Tumults (akatastasiaiv). See on Luke xxi. 9, and compare ajkatastatov unstable, Jas. i. 8. This is one of the words which show the influence of political changes. From the original meaning of unsettledness, it developed, through the complications in Greece and in the East after the death of Alexander, into the sense which it has in Luke - political instability. One of the Greek translators of the Old Testament uses it in the sense of dread or anxious care.
Watchings (agrupniaiv). Only here and ch. xi. 27. See on the kindred verb, Mark xiii. 33. For the historical facts, see Acts xvi. 25; xx. 7-11, 31; 2 Thessalonians iii. 8.
Fastings (nhsteiaiv). Mostly of voluntary fasting, as Matt. xvii. 21; Acts xiv. 23; but voluntary fasting would be out of place in an enumeration of hardships.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:5 {In stripes} (en plegais). In blows, wounds (#Lu 10:30; 12:48; Ac 16:23,33). Our plague. {In tumults} (en akatastasiais). See on #1Co 14:33). Instabilities, often from politics. {In watchings} (en agrupniais). In sleeplessnesses, instances of insomnia. Old word, in N.T. only here and #11:27. Paul knew all about this .
