Three times. After the third time, God revealed to Paul that the “thorn in the flesh ” would not be removed miraculously.
لكِنَّ ٱللهَ أَظْهَرَ لَهُ أَنَّ هذِهِ ‹ ٱلشَّوْكَةَ فِي ٱلْجَسَدِ › لَنْ تُفَارِقَهُ بِشَكْلٍ عَجَائِبِيٍّ .‏