Of course he was speaking of himself...Otherwise the story would have been pointless and useless...The 'guy' who learned things from God wasn't allowed to tell anyone so if it wasn't Paul, what's the point in the story...Of course it was Paul...
2Co 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
It tells us right here...Paul would like to glorify that man (himself) but he won't because he would be a fool since everyone would put him on a pedestal and worship him...
2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
What??? Whoever it was, wasn't allowed to tell anyone about the revelations and whoever 'went up' didn't reveal the revelations so for Paul to know the revelations, it had to be Paul that went up...
And why would Paul be given a thorn in the flesh for just knowing someone who told him this story??? And why would Paul be exalted above anyone for claiming to hear a pointles story from some other man??? I say bonkers...
And of course you know that but I just wanted to point it out for anyone reading that might be swayed by the deceivers...
I still am unsure whether it is willful ignorance or willful deception...
...as a box of rocks...that one...