2 Timothy 4:16

“At my first answer no man stood with me, etc.] Meaning, that when he made his first defence against the charges laid unto him in one of the courts of judicature in Rome, no man appeared in his cause, to speak to his character, to be a witness for him, or plead his cause: but all men forsook me; all his friends, all that came with him from Judea, or from Asia; (see <550115>2 Timothy 1:15) being timorous of coming into danger, and of the loss of their lives; as the disciples of Christ were, when he was apprehended, who all at that time forsook him and fled: [I pray God] that it may not be laid to their charge; that this sin may not be imputed to them, or they be punished for it, but that it…”

“At my first answer--that is, "defense" in court, at my first public examination. Timothy knew nothing of this, it is plain, till Paul now informs him. But during his former imprisonment at Rome, Timothy was with him (Phi 1:1, Phi 1:7). This must have been, therefore, a second imprisonment. He must have been set free before the persecution in A.D. 64, when the Christians were accused of causing the conflagration in Rome; for, had he been a prisoner then, he certainly would not have been spared. The tradition [EUSEBIUS, Ecclesiastical History, 2.251] that he was finally beheaded, accords with his not having been put to death in the persecution, A.D. 64, when burning to death was the mode by…”

“At my first answer - Greek, “apology (ἀπολογία apologia), plea, or defense.” This evidently refers to some trial which he had had before the Roman emperor. He speaks of a first trial of this kind; but whether it was on some former occasion, and he had been released and permitted again to go abroad, or whether it was a trial which he had already had during his second imprisonment, it is not easy to determine. The former is the most natural supposition; for, if he had had a trial during his present imprisonment, it is difficult to see why he was still held as a prisoner. See this point examined in the introduction, section 1. No man stood with me - Paul had many friends in Rome (2 Timothy…”

“All - My friends and companions. Forsook me - And do we expect to find such as will not forsake us? My first defence - Before the savage emperor Nero. 2 Timothy 4:17”

“4:16 The first time I was brought before the judge: A Roman trial was divided between an initial, preliminary investigation and the trial proper. Paul was probably referring to the first of these. It could also refer to his first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28; see 2 Timothy Book Introduction, “Date of Writing”). • Everyone abandoned me: See study note on 2 Tim 4:10.”

“answer: Act 22:1, Act 25:16; Co1 9:3; Co2 7:11; Phi 1:7, Phi 1:17; Pe1 3:15 \*Gr. no: Ti2 4:10, Ti2 1:15; Psa 31:11-13; Mar 14:50; Joh 16:32 I pray: Act 7:60 2 Timothy 4:17”