At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
Parallel translations
- WEB At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.
- 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.
- NKJV At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
- NASB At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.
- NLT The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
At his first legal defense everyone abandoned Paul, yet he prays it not be charged against them. He mirrors Christ's own gracious forgiveness of those who failed him.
Overview
Standing trial alone, Paul experienced the desertion of all his supporters, a deeply isolating moment near the end of his life. Rather than condemning them, he asks that it not be counted against them, echoing the words of Stephen (Acts 7:60) and ultimately of Christ on the cross (Luke 23:34). This forgiving prayer reveals a heart shaped by the very grace he proclaimed. His loneliness sets the stage for the contrast in the next verse, where the Lord himself stands by him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- John 16:32“Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
- Mark 14:50Then everyone deserted Him and fled.
- Ps 31:11–13Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends—they flee when they see me on the street.
- Phil 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
- Phil 1:17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
- 2 Tim 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- 2 Tim 1:15You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- 1 Cor 9:3This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:
- 1 Pet 3:15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
- Acts 25:16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
- 2 Cor 7:11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
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Christ at the center
Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.
How 2 Timothy 4:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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