Power Couples and Famous Families

“Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus” (2Tim 4:19).

Headliners Making Headlines

Let’s face it, we love us some power couples. The tabloids can't wait for a pair of headliners to start making headlines together. Kim Kardashian and Kanye. Beyonce and Jay Z. Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady. Sometimes we even give them their own little cutesie pet name like Bennifer or Brangelina.

And then you have entire families who are famous in entertainment, politics, or business. The Kennedys. The Jacksons. Dare I say, the Simpsons? Sometimes just a surname ensures celebrity.

A Couple and a Family

Near the end of his very last letter, a man named Paul mentions a particular husband and wife as well as one of his favorite families. “Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus” (v19).

Let’s be honest. We’ll never see Prisca and Aquila on magazine covers in the checkout line. Don’t hold your breath for the Onesiphorus family to star on a reality TV show. But their seemingly small mention in a First Century document introduces us both to a true power couple and famous family used by God is big ways to spread His Gospel.

A Very Personal Note

Before we check out the folks Paul mentions, let’s check out why he’s writing in the first place. The calendar reads late in the year of 67 AD. The place is a Roman prison (2Tim 1:8, 16). The apostle knows he has just days left in this dungeon before his execution (2Tim 4:6-7).

That being the case, you can understand why this is the most personal and raw letter in the entire Bible. Paul writes to someone he considers his spiritual son (1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2). He’s left the young pastor to lead the church he planted in Ephesus, a large port city on the west coast of Asia Minor (1Tim 1:3).

A Pair of Purposes

Knowing his time left on this side of heaven is rapidly running out, the apostle fires off one last letter with two basic purposes. One, strongly encourage Tim as he passes him the baton of ministry (2Tim 2:1-4:5). God has given Paul a great run but it is about over.

Two, plead for one final visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). He may be Jesus’ handpicked spokesperson to non-Jews, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune to loneliness.

Nearing the End

We’re near the end of the last words Paul will ever write. The Lord has used him in amazing ways over the past 30-plus years. Just check out his resume. Former Pharisee (Phil 3:5). From murderer of Jesus’ followers to missionary of His message (Acts 7:58-8:3).

At least four major Mediterranean tours telling people about Jesus. Planter of at least 14 churches. Discipled key leaders of the early church like Timothy, Titus, Silas, Mark, and Luke just to name a few. Writer of no less than 13 books of the Bible and 28% of what we call the New Testament.

Give Them a Hug

Paul spends the final strokes of his pen telling Tim to send his best to some very special friends. “Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus” (v19). Just who are these folks? Why did the apostle feel the need to reach out to them at such a dark and desperate time of his life?

First of all, he urges Timothy pay his respects to them. The word we translate as “greet” (Gr. ασπαζομαι/aspozomai) means to embrace, express good wishes, or show honor to someone. But this is so much more than just firm handshake. The term carries a ton of intimacy. It comes from a root word that describes drawing someone close. Paul wants Tim to give them a hug for him.

Kisses for Christ?

That certainly makes sense. For heaven’s sake, they’re family members as brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul and his buddy Peter both go so far as to tell us to pucker up whenever we run into a fellow follower of Jesus (Rom 16:16; 1Pet 5:14). Hint: you may want to keep a few Tic Tacs handy.

I realize everybody is not a “hugger” like me. There are some of us who get a little freaked out when anyone enters their personal space to hug their neck. But let’s be willing to do what we can to show folks the love of Jesus when we see them. Can you at least spare a high five?

Husband and Wife

Paul first mentions “Prisca and Aquila” (v19). These are two of his oldest friends in the faith. Dr. Luke tells us that they first met over in Corinth around 51-52 AD. “And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome” (Acts 18:2).

So Aquila is a Jewish follower of Jesus from Pontus, a province on the northern coast of what we know today as Turkey. He’s married to the lovely Priscilla. Apparently the apostle became such good friends with them that he called her by the nickname Prisca (Rom 16:3; 1Cor 16:19). If you know Paul, you know how much he loves a good nickname.

They meet in Corinth because the Emperor Claudius has kicked out all the followers of Christ fro the capital. This foreshadows the coming persecution of the church that puts Paul in prison a few years later. In 64 AD, Nero will pin the blame of the great fire of Rome on the disciples of the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.

Business Partners

Luke goes on to say that Aquila, Priscilla, and Paul went into business together in Corinth since they were all tentmakers (Acts 18:3). They went out of their way NOT to be a financial burden to these fledgling church plants. Sometimes the apostle supports himself and preaches free of charge (1Cor 9:3-18; 2Cor 11:7). But he also clearly accepts money from other churches (2Cor 11:8-9; Phil 4:15-18).

After local Jews attack the apostle and try to get Corinthian city leaders to shut him down (Acts 18:12-17), Paul hops a ship to Syria and takes “with him Priscilla and Aquila” (Acts 18:18). He drops them off at Ephesus along the way (Acts 18:19).

Assisting Apollos

Luke tells us that while this power couple is in E City, they run into an incredible speaker and teacher named Apollos. God was using him to have a huge impact for the kingdom. There was just one problem. “he knew only of the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25).

One day before Apollos speaks at the Ephesian synagogue, Priscilla and Aquila “took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). It worked like a champ. A little later when he hits Achaia, “he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus” (Acts 18:28).

The couple fills in the blanks for Apollos. He knew about the One promised by God to come to our rescue. He just didn’t know Jesus is the coming Messiah. They explain to him how the Lord lived the perfect life we could never live. How He died the death for our sin we should have died. How He rose to the new life we could never earn. How He lovingly leads us through His commands.

Making Others Better

Notice what they didn’t do. Aquila and Priscilla could have grabbed the mic and taken the lead. They had every right since Apollos didn’t have the latest news on Jesus. Instead they coach up on Christ and cut him loose. What a humbling reminder of how the Lord calls us to empower others and “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph 4:12).

God uses them to make Apollos more effective. They’re not afraid to gently confront someone and set them straight. You can see why Paul hangs out with them so much. Who doesn’t love to spend time around people who make you better? Iron sharpens iron, baby. Iron sharpens iron (Prov 27:17).

Opening Your Home

As the apostle finishes one of his letters to the Corinthian church, he tells them that “Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord” (1Cor 16:19). They open up their home as a safe place for the followers of Jesus. Do I ever host others at my house? Let’s all be ready and willing to be share our lives and our living rooms with each other.

Top Billing

They are in Rome when Paul writes to believers there. “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the church of the Gentiles give thanks as well” (Rom 16:3-4). Have you noticed how the order of their names flip flips from time to time? Twice Aquila gets top billing but the other four times it’s Prisca.

You might not think this is anything to worry about. But in the ancient world, this is a VERY big deal. Chances are Priscilla takes the lead in whatever they’re doing. Aquila has clearly out-kicked his coverage. He’s married a strong, confident woman. Paul tips us off that Prisca often takes the lead in ministry.

There’s Something about Mary

It fits the pattern. The Lord scandalously broke cultural rules by allowing ladies to learn at His feet. As a result, some of Jesus most devoted followers were females like Mary Magdelene, Mary the mother of the Sons of Thunder, Jesus’ own mom Mary, as well as Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha. When it comes to following Jesus, maybe there IS something about Mary!

The long list of ladies serving Jesus doesn’t stop there. There’s Tabitha AKA Dorcas over in Joppa (Acts 9:36). John Mark’s mom Mary (Acts 12:12)…yup, another “Mary.” Lydia, the Philippian fashionista (Acts 16:14-15). The young girl Paul freed from both human trafficking and demon possession (Acts 16:16-18). Phoebe serving the church in Cenchreae (Rom 16:1-2). Do I need to go on?

Letting Your Wife Shine

So Priscilla is clearly in good company. She and her husband work as a team for God’s kingdom. Aquila is a dude secure enough in who he is in Jesus that he steps aside to let his wife shine. What a great example of sacrificing himself so that his wife could become all that God has created her to be.

Don’t make mistake of thinking Aquila’s a doormat. He knows full well that he and Prisca are one flesh (Gen 2:24; Eph 5:31). As teammates, they willingly submit to one another as an act of worship to Jesus (Eph 5:21). They are truly a power couple when it comes to serving Christ.

The Spiritual Head

But isn’t the husband supposed to be the spiritual head in the marriage (1Cor 11:3)? No question. But head does NOT mean dictator. It points to the one God will hold accountable.

Take the first marriage as an example. Eve is the one who listens to the satanic snake and sins first (Gen 3:6). But God holds her husband accountable for not leading and protecting his bride (Gen 3:9-11, 17-19). For Pete’s sake, the dude was right there when it all went down!

Serving Side-by-Side

Prisca and Aquila are a powerful example of how a husband and wife can serve our Savior side-by-side. I’m not saying you always have to be part of the same team serving at your church. But why not give it a shot? It’s one very practical way that a spouse can die to self and spend more time with the one they love. Why spend time apart while one of you serves at a different time or on a different day? Be a power couple for Jesus.

Back in Paul’s last letter, he also tells Timothy to also say “hello” to “the household of Onesiphorus” (v19). This is the second time he mentions the Big O and his family in the note. Clearly the guy with a very strange name and his famous family have a very special place in his heart.

Code Name Onesiphorus?

Near the beginning of the epistle he writes, “May the lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you know well all the service he rendered at Ephesus” (2Tim 1:16-18).

So who is this guy? Let’s face it, not too many parents are naming their sons Onesiphorus these days. And there’s a good chance that’s not his real name at all. Remember, Paul is serving hard time in Caesar’s SuperMax. He may be giving the Big O a nickname. Could this like a code name so he wouldn’t blow his cover during the brutal persecution of Jesus’ followers in the empire?

Just Call Him “Benny”

Whether it’s his real name or not, what does Onesiphorus mean? The Greek word (Gr. Ονεσιφορος/Onesiphorus) describes someone who is profitable and beneficial. Let’s call him “Benny.” See what I did there?

When he’s around, he always makes sure your life runs in the black, not in the red. Someone with that sort of rep would certainly be enthusiastic, friendly, likable, courageous, fiery, passionate, and have a deep faith. Yeah, the Big O is anything but a big zero.

Leaving a Legacy

There’s a big question as to whether the Benny is still alive when Paul writes to Timothy. This could be why the apostle asks for Jesus to bless “the household of Onesiphorus” (v16). While we can’t be 100% sure of Onesiphorus’ status, Paul certainly asks Christ for an extra heapin’ helpin’ of mercy when the Lord returns for His ultimate encore (v18).

This husband and father not only made a huge impact on the apostle but his own relatives as well. Since Timothy’s leading the church in Ephesus, there’s a solid chance his wife and kids are key contributors to that congregation. If Jesus has called Onesiphorus home by the time Paul writes, it’s clear his legacy of serving the Lord lives on in his famous family.

Get in the Game

If you’re a husband, father, and grandfather like me, what sort of spiritual leadership are you and I providing? Mike Lee says that God’s Word is clear that Dad is God’s preferred channel of guidance and blessing in the family.

The problem is too many of us haven’t just dropped the ball but never even picked it up. Our abdication of God’s call has forced our wives to step into spiritual leadership. That’s a position they were never born to play. Guys, get off the bench and get in the game. Your wife needs you. Your kids need you.

Initiate Not Dominate

As husbands and fathers, we’re to initiate, not dominate. The best way we can love our kids is by loving their mom. In a letter to his Ephesian friends, Paul calls married men to “love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Eph 5:25). Jesus sacrificed everything for His bride. We’re called to do the same.

A little later in that same letter, the apostle gets up in the grill of dads as well. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). Are we needlessly ticking off our kids with an regular and very unhealthy dose of because-I-said-so?

Follow Paul’s not-so-subtle command here. Lead, teach, and guide the same way Jesus did. Sure there are times we’ll need to be firm. No question about it. But never miss a teachable moment. And it’s never too early to start. Trust me on this. Every single day I regret the countless moments I missed to love and lead my own kids like the Lord.

Leading the Way

Being the spiritual leader for your family means leading the way in the ways of God. Lead the way in love. Lead in honesty. Lead in integrity. Lead in generosity. Lead in forgiveness. Lead in confession. Lead in repentance. Think about the power of confessing and repenting to your child for losing your cool as a dad.

Here’s a critical point to remember. While it’s imperative that we love our spouse and our kids, God loves them more than you do. I mean WAY more!! And a huge part of our role is to remind them of the overwhelming love of the Dad above.

Modeling Our Heavenly Dad

As fathers, we will impact our family’s view of our Heavenly Father more than we will ever realize. While we can never be perfect (remember that repentance thing we talked about?), we should seek His strength and guidance to be the husband and father He’s called us to be.

There’s little doubt that Onesiphorus’ spiritual investment in his wife and kids led to Paul dropping his name not once but twice in this letter. God clearly used Benny to leave an amazing legacy. His family certainly is famous in the best way possible…famous for making Jesus famous!

Famous for Faith

So there you have it. First of all, the ultimate biblical power couple, Priscilla and Aquila. Second, a family famous for its faith. You won’t see them on the covers of tabloids in the checkout line or featured on Entertainment Tonight. And maybe that’s a good thing.

©2017 Jay Jennings

The Eternal Standing O

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2Tim 4:18).

And the Crowd Goes Wild!

A spectacular performance results in an enormous ovation. Like the packed house at a concert jumping to its feet when the band rocks their encore. Like the standing-room-only crowd at a stadium celebrating a score. The better the show, the longer the cheers.

You might think this would be the last thing a prisoner on Death Row would be writing about. There’s not much to celebrate when you’re in your final days of walking the Green Mile. Prison? Cheers? Ovations? Celebrations? Unless you’re the Apostle Paul.

A Letter from Death Row

It’s late in the year 67 AD. The place is Rome, specifically a nasty dungeon known as the Mamertine Prison. Paul is a condemned man (2Tim 4:6-7). He’s writing one last letter to his spiritual son, a young preacher named Timothy (2Tim 1:2).

While he’s desperate for one last chance to see him (2Tim 4:9, 21), the apostle knows his situation is about to change. Drastically change. Radically change. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen” (v18).

Busting out of the Joint

Paul knows he’s getting out of the joint soon. Very soon. But not because the emperor will grant him a pardon. Not because a judge will overturn his conviction. Not because of some plot to bust him out of the joint. No, he’s not walking through the prison doors to freedom. He’s walking through the door of death and into the gates of Heaven.

Jesus is coming to his rescue as He’s done so many times before. But this time it’s different. This time it’s permanent. This time it’s paradise. And when Christ carries him home, the apostle is going to cheer like never before. He’s going to celebrate God with the rest of creation.

The applause will be loud and long because the performance has been unmatched. Great big cheers for our great big God. It’s going to be the Eternal Standing O. And nobody deserves it like Jesus.

Double Deliverance

Maybe you’re wondering the reason behind all the raving applause. Specifically, Paul says it’s because “the Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom” (v18). This is double deliverance. Out of evil. Into joy. Talk about going from worst to first!

First of all, the apostle tells Tim how Jesus is the ultimate Lifeguard who “will rescue me” (v18). He uses a Greek verb here (Gr. ρυομαι/ruomai) which means to bring someone out of severe danger, deliver, draw out of desperation. 

It actually comes from a root word which describes a fast-moving current, rip tide, or raging river. Picture a lifeguard jumping down out of the tower and sprinting into the surf.

The Gospel according to Baywatch?

Okay, I realize this conjures up images of David Hasselhoff and the Baywatch gang running in slo-mo down the wearing red swimming suits. But seriously, have you ever seen a highly trained lifeguard risk their own life to save someone who’s struggling to survive in the surf? Maybe you’ve been the one they’ve brought back and rescued.

When your lungs are filling with water, a lifeguard doesn’t stand up in his chair and shout swimming instructions to you over a bullhorn. This is no time to learn the backstroke or butterfly. You don’t need an education. You need a rescuer who will get personally involved and come to you!

Jesus to the Rescue

That’s exactly what Jesus has done for Paul, for you, and for me. When we were drowning in the sea of our own sin, He didn’t yell for us to swim harder. Christ jumped up from lap of Heaven’s luxury and dove headlong into the mess we made in order to save us.

We can’t save ourselves. None of us can. Not you. Not me. Not them. We can give it everything to get out of this rip tide of rebellion but it won’t happen.  We don’t earn our rescue. We can’t obey our way to safety. The only way we’re going to make it is when our Lord does what He does best. Save. That is, after all, why we call Him our Savior!

The Great Exchange

Our salvation is all part of a crazy swap that some folks refer to as the Great Exchange. In one of his letters to Corinthian Christ followers, Paul talks about how Father God had His sinless Son grab our utter rebellion and give us His absolute obedience (2Cor 5:21). 

He does for us what we could never do for ourselves. Christ doesn’t teach us how to swim. He dives in to take our sin. But He doesn’t stop there. Jesus graciously exchanges our badness for His goodness. I told you it was a crazy swap.

But there’s a bit of problem. Too many of us don’t think we need to be saved. We don’t realize we’re being carried away by the current. When Jesus comes to our rescue, we tell Him to leave us alone. We’re fine. We fight against Him like so many drowning victims struggle against the lifeguard. Relax. He’s got you.

Dirty Deeds

Paul points out that he’s counting our Savior to pull his sorry carcass out of danger from “every evil deed” (v18). Not just some evil deeds. We’re talking all of them. Every. Single. One. If you’ve been following the apostle’s current situation, that would include anything thrown at him by guys like Alexander who’s been a real pain (2Tim 4:14).

When we serve the Lord and start spreading His message, we’re going to face opposition. Moments before He’s betrayed and murdered, Jesus warns His team how they can expect to be hated since the world hates Him (Jn 15:18-20). 

Christ also tips us off to our supernatural enemy known as Satan. The devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy anything and everything that has to do with God’s kingdom and Jesus’ followers (Jn 10:10).

Self-Inflicted Wounds

But there’s a massive pile of “evil deeds” (v18) from which the Lord saves us as well. Those self-inflicted wounds. Those dirty deeds I’ve done to myself. Paul tells believers in Rome of his own struggle with sin after Jesus saved him (Rom 7:14-20). He desperately wants to do the right thing but all too often he is his own worst enemy.

Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Taken the t-shirt to Goodwill. Too often my biggest enemy is the goofball looking back at me in the morning mirror. As if I don’t have enough problems dealing with a culture which opposes Christ and the devil, I’m also in a cage fight with my own flesh.

The apostle reassures Tim that Jesus will eventually rescue us from all of them. Sound familiar? Paul seems to echo the words of Christ when He coaches up His crew on prayer. The Lord closes His model prayer by saying, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver (Gr. ρυομαι/ruomai) us from evil” (Mt 6:13).

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse

The man from Tarsus goes on to say that the Lord won’t just pull him out of trouble and leave him there. Picture an accident scene on the shoulder of a busy interstate. A good samaritan pulls an unconscious person out of a burning car. But instead of calling 9-1-1 and waiting for an ambulance, the dude drives away, leaving the victim in his rearview mirror.

Paul knows our Savior won’t just save his eternal bacon but promises to “bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom” (v18). This is double deliverance we talked about earlier. From the outhouse of evil. To the penthouse of paradise. Just like we can’t imagine what the Son of God left to come to our rescue, there’s no way we can wrap our minds around what it will be like to spend eternity with Him.

Draw Us out to Draw Us in

The phrase in the ESV “bring me safely” is actually one single word in the original language. And it’s a very familiar word: σωζω/sozo. The writers of the NT drop this little jewel a grand total of 118 times. So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

This is the word we normally translate as “save,” as in Jesus “will save (Gr. σωζω/sozo) His people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). It’s Peter’s cry for help when his own attempt at water walking doesn’t go so well. “Lord, save (Gr. σωζω/sozo) me!” (Mt 14:30). There goes Jesus being a lifeguard again!

Christ pulls us out of our own sin in order to pull us close to Himself. As Matt Chandler says, He draws us out in order to draw us in. That’s because Jesus wants to give us Himself. Forget all the other bennies you’ve heard about Heaven. Gates made of massive pearls. Golden pavement. Crystal rivers. The most awesome thing about eternity is God. Being with Him is THE Blessing! Nothing else comes close.

Death as the Doorway

So instead of freaking out about his certain execution date, Paul explodes in praise to his Savior! “To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen” (v18). The closer he gets to it, the more he realizes his death is simply a doorway to eternity with the Son of God. It’s that same thought that’s behind the tough he mentions to his Philippian friends. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).

Because of who Jesus is, all He’s done and all He’s going to do, Paul says the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter deserves an unlimited ovation. When we give God glory He so rightly deserves, we do everything we can to make Him famous. We raise up His name higher than any other. We shine the light on His righteous rep. We use our lives as a magnifying glass so that others can get a good look at the Lord.

Glory Words

We celebrate our Savior “forever and ever” (v18). The apostle actually repeats the same word (Gr. αιων/aion). You can easily translate this as “eternity and eternity.” In other words, we’re to join the unending, everlasting cheers for Jesus. It’s been going on longer than anyone can remember. And it’s not stopping anytime soon. This is the Eternal Standing O that only Jesus deserves.

Paul busts loose with this little ditty which theologians like to call a doxology. That’s a two-dollar word that simply means “glory words.” You bump into doxologies all throughout the Bible. Sudden explosions of praise which detonate whenever one of the writers of Scripture can no longer contain themselves when considering who God is and what He has done.

They’re littered all over the Old Testament (Ex 15:18; 1Chr 29:10-13; Ps 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 146:10; 150:1-6; Is 6:3). The words of glory keep on keeping on when you flip over to the New Testament. In the Gospels (Mt 21:9; Mk 11:9-10; Lk 2:14; 19:38). In the letters (Heb 13:20-21; 1Pet 4:11; 2Pet 3:18; Rev 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:12; 19:1). The apostle is personally responsible for this and four more (Rom 11:36; 16:25-27; Eph 3:20-21; Phil 4:20; 1Tim 1:17).

Never Stop Never Stopping

Long before Andy Samberg’s mockumentary, the inspired biblical writers were all about never stop never stopping when it comes to giving God the glory. It’s the never-ending applause for the only One who really rates. It’s the everlasting cheers for the only One who is truly entitled. It’s the Eternal Standing O that only Jesus deserves.

It’s amazing what happens when I get my eyes off my pathetic little pity party and look up to my awesome Savior. Can we be honest? Whatever you and I are facing probably finishes a distant second to Paul’s situation as he writes this letter. 

If he can spontaneously combust in worship of Jesus while walking the Green Mile, what’s stopping you and me?

©2017 Jay Jennings

Stand by Me

“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth” (2Tim 4:16-17).

Life Comes at You Fast

It can change in a flash. One minute there’s simply not enough time to take the calls, answer email, or interact with all the great stuff people say about on social media. Your head swells a couple of hat sizes. Maybe I really am pretty cool. Have I gone viral?

But before you can set up your Facebook fan page, the whole deal goes south. The atta-boys come to a screeching halt. The once constant encouragement quickly turns into crickets. In the blink of an eye, what appears to be a cheering crowd are simply cockroaches on the run. The commercials are right. Life comes at you FAST!

Paul’s Resume

It would be easy to look at the life of the Apostle Paul and think this is exactly what happened to him. For several years, he had it all going on. Personally handpicked by Jesus. God’s lead spokesman to the Gentile world. Globetrotter. Church planter. Miracle worker. Leader of his own growing posse. Writer of a huge chunk of the New Testament. Not a bad resume, don’t you think?

But there’s another side to Paul’s story. A dark side. A lonely side. While God gave him a front row seat to see the message of Jesus radically transform lives, not everybody wanted any part of that change. A growing number of people hated what he was doing. They even put out a hit on him. He was attacked and beaten. Run out of town if he was lucky. Stoned and left for dead if he wasn’t.

There was a time when his preaching attracted overflow crowds in cities around the Mediterranean Rim. There was a time when he rolled with a personal traveling party of eight supporters from various churches he started (Acts 20:4-5). He mentored the best and the brightest names in the early church. We’re talking about dudes like Barnabas, John Mark, Silas, Titus, and Timothy.

The Darkness of the Dungeon

We pick up Paul’s story in 67 AD. He’s behind bars in Rome’s Mamertine Prison (2Tim 1:12, 16; 2:9). This joint is Death Row for those Caesar condemns to die (2Tim 4:6-7). It’s here in this darkness of the dungeon that the Light of the World specializes in shining the brightest. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Before we get to that, we need to remember the reason Paul’s writing in the first place. He’s finishing one last letter to Timothy, a young pastor leading the church the apostle planted in Ephesus (1Tim 1:3; 2Tim 1:2). Paul pulls no punches in passing the baton of ministry to his spiritual son (2Tim 2:1-4:5). He also begs Tim to hit the road and get to Rome for one last visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21).

Legal Speak

At this point the epistle, Paul updates Tim on his current legal situation. “At my first defense no one came to stand by me” (v16). He refers to his “defense” by using a little lawyer speak (Gr. απολογια/apologia). It describes the response to official charges or speaking on behalf of yourself or others in the face of an accusation.

If you’re familiar with the apostle’s story, you know he’s had his fair share of appearances in court for telling people about Jesus. So which time does he mean when he refers to “my first defense” (v16)? Let’s be honest. The guy’s seen the inside of countless courtrooms between Jerusalem and Rome. Which one? Which time?

The Roman Two-Step

According to John MacArthur, the Roman court system had a two-step process. The first hearing was called the prima actio (or “first action”). This was much like an arraignment which established the charges and need for a trial. The second proceeding was the secunda actio (or “second action”) where a judge reaches a verdict and hands down a sentence.

So what Paul describes here is that “first action.” In other words, this is the most recent “first defense” (v16). He probably appeared before Nero himself. If not, it was a judge or panel of judges made up of Caesar’s toadies.

Arson Charges?

What exactly did Roman authorities charge the apostle with? That’s a great question that’s not found anywhere in the New Testament. But when we flip open the pages of history, we find clues that go along way to unlock this mystery. Just a three years before in July of 64 AD, a massive fire began in Rome’s southern slums and burned for three days.

This raging inferno totally torched three of Rome’s 14 districts and damaged much of the city. It killed hundreds and left thousands homeless. While there’s no hard evidence blaming Nero for the blaze (or that he fiddled away while watching the flames from the palace), there is one fact we do know. He blamed those annoying followers of Jesus for the disaster.

Some Bible scholars believe Roman authorities implicated Paul with a role in setting the fire. While we’re not sure if Caesar charged the apostle in connection with arson, we do know the emperor unleashed an unprecedented persecution and pain on believers throughout the empire.

Following Jesus Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Before the fire, it was certainly hazardous to your health to claim the name of Christ before the fire. After Rome burns, the state-sponsored terrorism against disciples was on like Donkey Kong. With targets on their backs as imperial scapegoats, the followers of Jesus scatter and go underground.

This would explain why Paul describes that his first court appearance “no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me” (v15). He stood alone against Roman legal machine. No attorney. No public defender. When he looked over his shoulder for support in the court, it was nothing but crickets and tumbleweeds.

A Public Show of Support

The man from Tarsus tells Tim how nobody wanted to be seen with him. The phrase the ESV translates as “came to stand” is actually one word in the original language (Gr. παραγινομαι/paraginomai). It means to show up publicly at a place for a distinct purpose, whether helpful or hostile. The term can describe making a public appearance with someone in order show your support.

Matthew tells us how “Jesus came (Gr. παραγινομαι/paraginomai) from Galilee” to endorse his cousin John the Baptist’s campaign of repentance and baptism (Mt 3:14). The writer of Hebrews points out that “Christ appeared (Gr. παραγινομαι/paraginomai) as a high priest” to publicly demonstrate God’s blessings to come (Heb 9:11).

At that first hearing, Paul flew solo. Just in case we’re not paying attention, he goes out of his way to call the roll of his courtroom supporters. “All deserted me” (v16). In doing so, he drops the same term (Gr. εγκαταλειπω/egkateleipo) he used to describe being ditched by Demas a few verses back (2Tim 4:10). Is it at this court appearance that “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm” (2Tim 4:14)?

Paul’s Roman Friends

So who were the “all” he’s describing who bailed on him? Well, the apostle wrote to believers in Rome ten years before, around 56-57 AD (Rom 1:7). It’s in this letter we call the book of Romans where Paul beautifully unpacks how God has come to our cosmic rescue through His sinless Son.

Near the end of the letter, he says “hello” to 24 people by name,  as well as two full families, some unnamed brothers and sisters in the Lord, and then “all the saints who are with them” (Rom 16:3-15). This probably includes many of the same followers of Jesus who greeted him when he arrived in custody just a few years back in 61 AD (Acts 28:15-30).

The Fact of Loneliness

Six years later, they were gone. All gone. Gone except for his good friend Dr. Luke (2Tim 4:11). Paul will mention a few other folks he has some interaction with a bit later (2Tim 4:21). But on at that first appearance in court, he was alone. You could easily translate this as “at my first defense no one came to my defense.” Nobody dared be seen in public with him.

Author Thomas Wolfe writes that “loneliness…is the central and inevitable fact of human existence.” Paul knew what it was like to be abandoned by his closest friends. So did our Savior. Jesus’ agony on the cross included His friends running from him like scared rabbits and His Heavenly Dad turning away from Him. Paul takes comfort that our Lord knew loneliness so that we would never really be alone.

Grace Giver

Rather than throw those folks under the bus or fire up the social media flame thrower, he does just the opposite. “May it not be charged against them!” (v16). Paul understood the danger. He fully realized the circumstances. He tells Tim not to hold it against them.

Sound familiar? It brings back Jesus’ words to His Dad as He hung on a Roman cross. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:24). When a mob of religious bullies fired rocks at Stephen, he prayed to Jesus, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).

Instead of requiring revenge, Paul gives grace. Can we be honest here? Forgiveness for folks who ditched me when I needed them most is probably not be at the top of my to-do list. But the apostle knows that we really need to forgive others since God in Christ has forgiven us of so much more (Eph 4:32).

No Day at DisneyWorld

Who needs your mercy? Who needs your grace? Who’s deserted you in your time of need? Who’s hurt you…either intentionally or unintentionally? Let’s follow Paul’s lead and not hold it against them. If you need to, tell your friends where you stand. Tell them that there’s no reason to be angry about what somebody has done to you.

Let’s cut to the chase. There’s a pretty good chance your friends didn’t bail on you in court at a hearing that could result in a death sentence. Relax, I’m not saying what we’ve been through has been a day at DisneyWorld. Let’s take to heart Jesus’ words just before He headed home to Heaven. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).

His Presence and His Power

It’s because of this promise that the apostle can write these amazing words. “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (v17). Despite the absence of everybody else, Jesus was personally there with him and gave him the power and ability to face any and every situation (Phil 4:13). Christ does that by giving us both His presence and His power.

That includes when it appears you’re flying solo in court. ESPECIALLY when you’re flying solo in court! Paul makes that point by using a term (Gr. παριστημι/paristemi) translated “stood” (v16). It describes standing together, appearing side-by-side, or coming alongside to help someone. Like before, the word is another legal term. It means to prove to be true or present evidence of truth.

Dr. Luke tells his friend Theophilus how Jesus proved His resurrection and “presented (Gr. παριστημι/paristemi) Himself alive” to His personal posse (Acts 1:3). When religious bullies call Peter and John on the carpet for healing a man with a birth defect, the apostles tell them that this miracle is powerful proof of who Jesus is. “By Him this man is standing (Gr. παριστημι/paristemi) before you well” (Acts 4:16).

The Indwelling Dynamo

The Lord not only gives us His presence but His power. Paul describes to Him how He “strengthened me” (v16). This is the Greek verb ενδυναμοω/endumano’o, which means to empower, make strong, or cause someone to have the ability to do or experience something they otherwise could not have done.

This compound word literally describes an “inner (Gr. εν-/en-) power (Gr. -δυναμοω/-dumano’o).” The core term is where we get the word “dynamo.” Through the power supply of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God allows every believer to tap into His unlimited strength. Iron Man’s arc reactor is a hamster on a wheel compared to what He’s given you and me.

This the third time in his two letters to Timothy where Paul credits Jesus as His source of supernatural strength. He thanks the Lord “who has given me strength (Gr. ενδυναμοω/endumano’o)” to serve Him (1Tim 1:12). He encourages Tim to “be strengthened (Gr. ενδυναμοω/endumano’o) by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2Tim 2:1).

The God Who Is ALWAYS with Us

Just as He did Paul, our Savior gives each one of us who follows Him His presence and His power. When everybody else bails and leaves you all alone, He is there. Remember, Jesus is God who is with us (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23). He promises to the God who is ALWAYS with us (Dt 31:6-8; Josh 1:5, 9; Mt 28:20; Heb 13:5). We may not see Him or feel Him, but our Lord is right there wherever we are, giving us His strength when our tank is on E.

 Jesus doesn’t just randomly throw some supernatural strength Paul’s way for him to use as he sees fit. The apostle He does it “so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed” (v17). In other words, the Lord powers up Paul to spread the word about the salvation God is offering through His one and only Son.

Search and Rescue

Ever since his amazing encounter with the resurrected Jesus outside Damascus, the apostle formerly known as Saul has made God’s message his personal mission. What exactly is this Good News? Our gracious God created a perfect universe and put our first parents in it. We broke it all through our rebellion and disobedience.

But our Creator didn’t just throw in the towel and turn His back on us. He sends His Son on the most breathtaking search and rescue mission in history. Jesus leaves the comforts of the heavenly palace to dive into the disgusting dumpster of our sin.

Taking Our Place

By taking on human flesh, Christ lives the life of perfect obedience to the Father we’ve failed to live. He dies the brutal death for our rebellion that we should have died. But that’s not all! He rises to a glorious new life that we certainly didn’t earn.

We place our trust in Who Jesus is and what He has done that we could never do for ourselves. We also place our trust in His commands. He wants God’s best for us. Obedience to God’s Word not only gives Him glory but also unlocks the overflowing, unlimited life that our Savior promises (Jn 10:10). This is the Gospel which Paul tells Tim has been “fully proclaimed” (v17). 

An Invitation to God’s Party

Then the apostle reminds his spiritual son how God has thrown the doors open to His kingdom for every people group on the planet to the party. Jesus personally handpicked Paul so that “the Gentiles might hear it” (v17). “Gentiles” is actually the Greek noun εθνος/ethnos. It’s the source of our word “ethnic.”

The term describes a people group, tribe, a multitude of people with something in common. It’s the largest unit into which the people of the world are divided based on their social or cultural community.

Paul’s Supernatural Assignment

Writers of the NT use this when talking about outsiders. Specifically, those outside the Jewish race and faith. For centuries, the Hebrew people expected God to send Messiah just for them. After all, they are God’s chosen people. But much to their surprise, He sent Messiah through the Jews to the entire world! There’s a big meeting at the home office in Jerusalem to hash this out (Acts 15:1-35).

Jesus picked Paul as His spokesman to non-Jews around the world (Acts 9:15; Rom 1:5; 15:8-12). Over and over and over again, the apostle reminds people of his supernatural assignment “the Gentiles (Gr. εθνος/ethnos)” (Rom 11:13; 15:16; Gal 1:16; 2:2; Eph 3:1, 7-8; 1Tim 2:7). If you’re a non-Jewish follower of the Jewish Messiah, you’ve got Paul to thank!

From Outsiders to Insiders

Think of Gentiles as people NOT like you. Foreigners. Outsiders. You know, THOSE people. People who speak a different language and wear weird clothes. Should we be building walls? I don’t know. But there’s one thing Jesus makes clear through Paul. He came to make outsiders insiders.

You can bet the apostle sees his various legal proceedings as a chance to spread the Gospel. He’s done it before (Acts 24:14-15, 24-25; 25:12-23). Paul leverages every opportunity he has to spread the message of grace. That’s because everybody needs a Savior (Rom 3:10-12; 3:23). You. Me. Us. Them. Only Jesus transforms outsiders into insiders.

From the Courtroom to the Circus

Paul then seems to jump from the courtroom to the circus when he says, “I was rescued from the lion’s mouth” (v17). What in the name of Barnum and Bailey is he talking about? Remember, I’m not lion when I say Rome has made the followers of Jesus the target of terror. (Yeah, you’re right. That was awful.)

This could be a literal rescue from being used as bait for the big cats in some gruesome performance. God famously saved Daniel in the lion’s den back in the day (Dan 6:26-27). Maybe he’s referring to Nero specifically or his Roman authorities in general. While we can’t be sure from the text, it is clear that God had brought the apostle through a slew of close calls and brushes with death (2Cor 4:8-12; 11:23-28).

From the Penthouse to the Outhouse

Has your life been a series of wild swings? One moment you’re in the penthouse and the next in the outhouse. One moment folks give you the key to the city and the next their locking you up. One moment you’re surrounded by friends and the next you’re all alone.

No matter your situation, Jesus is there. He stands by you. He stands with you. He gives you His presence. He gives you His power. Just ask Paul.