16.11

Did Paul Have Bad Eyesight? (Box 16.3)

• He says that he suffered from a “physical infirmity” (Gal. 4:13) and from a “thorn” in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7).
• He says that the Galatians would have given him their own eyes to help him had it been possible (Gal. 4:15).
• His handwriting is recognizable because of the exceptionally large letters that he makes (Gal. 6:11).
• He is said to have been temporarily blinded (Acts 9:8), and when his sight is restored, “something like scales” fall from his eyes (Acts 9:18).
• He fails to recognize the high priest when appearing before the Jewish council in Jerusalem (Acts 23:4–5).

Such considerations have led to speculation: Did he have cataracts or some other eye problem? Was he partially blind?