Paul considered this God-given opportunity, and he improved it faithfully. He knew that the man and woman before him had the power to put him to death, or to preserve his life; yet he did not address them with praise or flattery. He knew that his words would be to them a savor of life or of death, and, forgetting all selfish considerations, he sought to arouse them to the peril of their souls.{LP 240.1}

Paulus betragtede dette som en Gudsgiven anledning, og han udnyttede den nøje. Han vidste at den mand og kvinde han havde foran sig havde magt til at dræbe ham, eller bevare hans liv; alligevel talte han ikke rosende eller smigrende til dem. Han vidste at hans ord ville være en smag af liv eller af død for dem, og glemte alle selviske hensyn, søgte han at vække dem til deres sjæles fare.