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.
Parallel translations
- WEB At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.
- BSB At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
- 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 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- John 16:32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
- Mark 14:50And they all forsook him, and fled.
- Ps 31:11–13I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
- Phil 1:7Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
- Phil 1:17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
- 2 Tim 4:10For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
- 2 Tim 1:15This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
- 1 Cor 9:3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
- 1 Pet 3:15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
- Acts 25:16To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
- Acts 22:1Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
- 2 Cor 7:11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear 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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