Paul’s Epistles from Captivity
After the close of the Book of “Acts,” the Bible gives us no definite information as to the career of any of the Apostles. From the later Epistles of Paul we can gather some information as to his fate. He seems to have been released from his first captivity at Rome, and to have made many further journeys. Then he was arrested again, perhaps at the time of the terrible persecution of the Christians by Nero. This second captivity seems to have been rigorous and to have ended in the great preacher’s martyrdom.
While imprisoned in a solitary cell he wrote calmly and cheerfully to his various friends and churches. His Epistles to his beloved disciple Timothy speak especially of his own predicament, telling that many have “swerved aside,” and that he stood alone before his judges. “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”
Quietly, even joyously, the aged Apostle wrote, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
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