He kept quiet for 14 years
One of the cruellest insinuations made about Paul was that he was under God's manifest displeasure. His attackers pointed to his thorn in the flesh, v. 7. It is not clear what this was, but the terms used are physical, and the indications are that it was excruciating. Paul is forced to explain how it is that he has this disability, and in doing so he breaks a self-imposed silence of fourteen years. Fourteen years ago he, “a man in Christ”, had a stupendous experience. He was caught up to the third heaven and saw things impossible to communicate in human language. Paul’s amazing humility comes out in the fact that he kept silent for so long about something that others would have shouted from the housetops. There had been a possibility of pride, and the Lord had taken effective steps. Paul was given that which proved both painful and humbling. He prayed the Lord thrice for its removal, addressing Him who, in the days of His flesh, had thrice prayed the Father, “Take aw...