but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
Parallel translations
- WEB Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.
- KJV And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
- BSB But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.
- NASB and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
- NLT I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul was lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape his pursuers. It matters because the great apostle's deliverance came through an undignified, helpless retreat.
Overview
Far from a display of power, Paul's first 'exploit' was being smuggled out like fugitive cargo. By spotlighting this, he deliberately subverts any notion of self-made greatness. His honest embrace of such weakness sets the stage for the surpassing revelations and the thorn that follow in chapter 12.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Acts 9:25but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
- Josh 2:18Behold, when we come into the land, tie this line of scarlet thread in the window which you used to let us down. Gather to yourself into the house your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household.
- 1 Sam 19:12So Michal let David down through the window. He went away, fled, and escaped.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 11:33 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.