Besides being dragged out of Lystra for dead, how many other times was Paul near death?
The context does not specify how many other times Paul was near death. It only states that beyond being dragged out of Lystra for dead, there were other occasions when, so far as the apostle was concerned, he was next to death—whether through sickness, beatings, imprisonments, or whatever.
Les explains that Paul’s near-death experiences were not limited to the stoning at Lystra, where he was dragged out for dead. Beyond that, there were other times when Paul himself considered himself next to death, whether from sickness, beatings, or imprisonments. Les also describes the brutal nature of the beatings: Paul received thirty-nine lashes, a punishment few could endure; most men would die during the whipping, so the chief priest often had to stop the whipper early, sometimes at 25 or 30. Stoning was even worse—rocks so large they required two hands to smash down, leaving the corpse obscene. Paul went through such suffering so the New Testament could come to us.
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.