But the Lord stood with [me], and gave me power, that through me the proclamation might be fully made, and all [those of] the nations should hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth.
Paul writes from a Roman prison, and at his first hearing before the emperor's court no friend stood with him. Verse 16 records that desertion, and this verse answers it: what help did the Lord give — escape, or something else?
Deserted by Everyone, Yet Not Alone
The order of the words matters. Presence comes first, then power.
The apostle was in these circumstances for the truth's sake. They only served to bring out fully what a reserve he had in the Lord Himself... Notice the beautiful moral order of these words — not "strengthened me and stood by me," but "stood by me and strengthened me." This order conveys a reality that is very blessed. It puts first, and in the foreground, the Lord's company and presence with His faithful servant at the moment when all deserted him.
This is not an exception made for an apostle. Others see in it a pattern for anyone left standing alone.
May we not say this? It is exactly when someone in the Lord's service, and for His name, has to feel the loneliness of the path of a faithful witness that the Lord comes and reveals Himself in a special way. So at this moment of trial, the Lord stood by Paul and strengthened him — strengthened him inwardly. The enemy's effort became an opportunity to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles who filled the court.
Power to Speak, Not Power to Escape
The power He gave had a definite shape.
If all others fail and forsake us, the Lord's words will always remain true: "I will never leave you nor forsake you"... But when the Lord gives power, it is not power to crush our enemies. It is not power to get ourselves out of hard circumstances. It is spiritual power to bear witness for Him in front of His enemies... From the records of Paul's preaching we know what that proclamation was: the forgiveness of sins "through this Man" — Christ Jesus, the risen Man in the glory (Acts 13:38)... Paul was given power to proclaim Christ, and the Lord Himself used His power to deliver His servant from the immediate danger. So he can say, not "I rescued myself," but "I was rescued from the lion's mouth."
The Trial as a Pulpit
Paul had every reason to defend himself. He used the hour for something else.
Let us note this: Paul says nothing about being on the defensive on this occasion. In fact he boldly took the positive action of fully preaching the truth of Christ before the great Gentile court. Such is the power given as a result of any real sense of the Lord's standing with the servant.
His words also went further than the courtroom.
He did not use every ounce of his wit and strain every nerve to prove his own innocence. Instead he concentrated on giving the fullest and plainest testimony to the gospel. His trial became the occasion in which "the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it." Paul eagerly seized the chance to set the gospel fully before the most impressive gathering on earth at that time. His words then stood on record in the official report of the trial, open to any and every Gentile.
Who the Lion Was
Commentators differ over who or what the lion was.
"So I was rescued from the lion's mouth." Does this refer to the Emperor in particular, or to his representative in a more general way? People say they cannot determine. The phrase clearly means rescued from the most immediate or overwhelming danger.
Others look behind the human figure. Paul was rescued "from the Satanic enmity which was moving strongly in the secular power" (Leslie M. Grant).
Kept Until the Work Is Finished
One writer sets Paul beside Daniel, an earlier servant whom God saved from lions.
God delivered Daniel from the mouth of the lion "because he believed in his God." Paul, too, was delivered, though perhaps in another sense. But we do know that he was afterwards put to death by Caesar's executioners. So let us have no fears for our own life. Our time here is certain until our work is done and our testimony for Christ is complete.
Summary
- Stood — presence comes before power. The Lord's company with His servant comes first, and the strength follows.
- Strengthened — the help is not power to crush enemies or escape hardship. It is power to witness in front of them.
- Proclaimed — Paul dropped his own defence and preached. The message went fully on record before the Gentiles.
- Delivered — Paul does not say "I rescued myself." The Lord did it. Commentators point to the Emperor, to the power behind him, or to overwhelming danger.
- Finished — the rescue lasted as long as the work did. Our time here is secure until the testimony is complete.