Through his long term of service, Paul had never faltered in his allegiance to his Saviour. Wherever he was--whether before scowling Pharisees, or Roman authorities; before the furious mob at Lystra, or the convicted sinners in the Macedonian dungeon; whether reasoning with the panic-stricken sailors on the shipwrecked vessel, or standing alone before Nero to plead for his life--he had never been ashamed of the cause he was advocating. The one great purpose of his Christian life had been to serve Him whose name had once filled him with contempt; and from this purpose no opposition or persecution had been able to turn him aside. His faith, made strong by effort and pure by sacrifice, upheld and strengthened him.

Under hele sin lange arbejdstid havde Paulus aldrig vaklet i sin troskab mod Frelseren. Hvor han end var, om han var stillet overfor de skulende farisæere eller den romerske øvrighed, overfor den rasende pøbel i Lystra eller de dømte forbrydere i det makedoniske fængsel; om han gav råd til de rædselsslagne søfolk på det skibbrudne fartøj eller stod alene for Nero for at forsvare sit liv, aldrig havde han skammet sig over den sag, han gjorde sig til talsmand for. Det eneste store mål i hans kristenliv havde været at tjene ham, hvis navn engang havde fyldt ham med foragt; og fra dette mål havde ingen modstand eller forfølgelse kunnet få ham til at vige. Hans tro, der var blevet stærk ved at stræbe og ren ved at ofre, opretholdt og styrkede ham.