II Timothy 4: 16-22
(16) At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.
Paul is gracious to not hold against his friends that they were all nowhere to be found when he needed them.
(17) But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me,
When all we have is the Lord, the Lord is all we need.
so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear;
Through his defense of the Gospel, Paul was able to share God's love throughout all of Rome, to places he wouldn't have been able to preach had he not been a prisoner.
and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth.
This could be either literal or figurative, but he was released after his first imprisonment.
(18) The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly Kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Even though he is in prison again, and he may not be released this time, he is still trusting God to bring him safely to his destination, His heavenly Kingdom. And he breaks out in spontaneous praise.
(19) Greet Priscilla and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
He's saying hello to his friends and partners, Priscilla and Aquila, who may have been staying in the home of Onesiphorus in Ephesus.
(20) Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.
Erastus stayed behind in Corinth when Paul continued on, and when Trophimus got sick and couldn't travel, Paul left him in the care of friends in Miletus.
(21) Make every effort to come before winter.
Paul has asked Timothy to come as soon as he can, and to bring him his warm cloak and his study materials; and now he asks him to try to get there before it gets cold.
Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.
And he sends greetings from some of the church members there in Rome.
(22) The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
And Paul ends this letter with a blessing.
O my Father, please help me to be gracious like Paul was toward the end of his life. Help me to follow Paul as he followed Christ. Teach me how to love others as You have loved me, and to reach out to the world, to be a soldier in Your army to reach every living person in all the nations of the world.
Father, every person needs to have enough understanding to be able to make an informed choice to accept Your gracious and generous gift, or to reject it.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
