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I. His DESERTION BY MAN. "At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me; may it not be laid to their account."

1. The apostle had to make his defence before the emperor. There is no record of the nature of the charge. It was probably a charge of sedition or disobedience to the pagan authorities, which, on account of the close complication of civil and religious duties in the state, could not be explained to the satisfaction of a ruler jealous of civil obedience.

2. The saints at Rome deserted the apostle through fear. They failed to support him either by their presence, their sympathy, or their witness in his favour. Their weakness and timidity must have been a sore trial to the apostle. Yet he could remember that his Divine Master had been similarly deserted in his last hours.

3. The apostle's prayer for these timorous saints. "May it not be laid to their account." This implies:

(1) That they had been guilty of a grave trespass in forsaking the apostle.

(2) That a single sin, unpardoned, would be destructive to the saints.

(3) That the apostle had a deep interest in their welfare.

(a) He would be concerned for the great weakness of their faith, with its accompanying depression and discomfort;

(b) for the effects of their weakness on the high repute of the gospel;

(c) and he would seek their restoration in the very spirit of his Divine Master.

II. IF MAN FORSOOK HIM, HE WAS NOT FORSAKEN BY GOD. "But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear." Like his Divine Master, he might say, "Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."

1. The Divine support accorded to him. The secret but gracious presence of the Lord delivered him from all unworthy fears of man. He would feel, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" He was strengthened inwardly unto all long suffering with joyfulness; so that he could make his defence with all clearness and courage, with all presence of mind, and with all freedom of thought and expression.

2. The end of this Divine support was that the gospel might be still more fully known at Rome and elsewhere by all Gentiles.

III. THE EFFECT OF HIS DEFENCE. "And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." He had, for a time, escaped condemnation. Nero was the cruel lion out of whose power the Lord had delivered him.

IV. THE APOSTLE'S ANTICIPATION OF A STILL HIGHER DELIVERANCE. "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom."

1. This is no declaration that the apostle shall escape death, for he had already spoken of himself as "already being offered. (Ver. 6.)

2. It is a declaration that he shall be carried beyond the sphere of evil in every form, and translated securely into the heavenly kingdom. All the evil influences at work around him would not affect him. There is not a note of fear in his last days.

V. ASCRIPTION OF GLORY TO HIS DIVINE DELIVERER. To whom be the glory forever and ever."

1. The glory is here ascribed to the Son of God, an express evidence of his Divinity.

2. There is no time more appropriate for such an ascription of glory as after deliverance from death and evil. - T.C.

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KJV: At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

WEB: At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.