The zeal and fidelity of Paul and his fellow-workers, no less than the faith and obedience of those converts to Christianity, under circumstances so forbidding, should be a rebuke to slothfulness and unbelief in the followers of Christ. Never let us, by our human, short-sighted judgment, limit the plans and work of God. Never let us excuse ourselves from efforts to win souls to Christ, even in the most unpromising fields. The apostle and his subordinate ministers might have argued that the servants of Nero were subjected to the fiercest temptations, surrounded by the most formidable hindrances, exposed to the most bitter opposition, and that under such circumstances it would be in vain to call them to repentance and to faith in Christ. Should they be convinced of the truth, how could they render obedience? But the gospel was presented to those souls, and there were some among them who decided to obey it at any cost. Notwithstanding the obstacles and dangers, they would walk in the light, trusting in God for opportunity to let their light shine forth to others. {LP 295.1}

Paulus og hans medarbejderes iver og flid, ikke mindst de nyomvendte kristnes tro og lydighed, under så afskrækkende forhold, burde være en irettesættelse dovenskaben og vantroen hos Kristi efterfølgere. Lad os aldrig, i vor menneskelige kortsynede dømmekraft, begrænse guds planer. Lad os aldrig undskylde os selv fra at anstrenge os i sjælevinding til Kristus, endog ikke på de mest ulovende marker. Apostlen og hans underordnede tjenere kunne have skændtes om at Neros tjenere var underlagt de hårdes fristelser, omgivet de frygteligste hindringer, udsat for den bitreste modstand, og under forhold så det ville være nyttesløse at kalde dem til anger og tro på Kristus. Skulle de overbevises for sandheden, hvordan kunne de så være lydige? Men evangeliet blev overbragt til disse sjæle, og der var nogle i blandt dem, som ønskede at adlyde det for enhver pris. På trods af forhindringer og farer, ville de vandre i lyset, stole på Gud efter en anledning til at lade deres lys skinne ud til andre.