Paul the aged prisoner, without money, without friends, without counsel, had been brought forth from a loathsome dungeon to be tried for his life. He had lived a life of poverty, self-denial, and suffering. With a sensitive nature that thirsted for love and sympathy, he had braved misrepresentation, reproach, hatred, and abuse; shrinking with nervous dread from pain and peril, he had fearlessly endured both. He had been, like his Master, a homeless wanderer upon the earth; he had lived and suffered for the truth’s sake, seeking to relieve the burdens of humanity, and to exemplify in his life the life of Christ. How could the capricious, passionate, licentious tyrant, who had no conception of the value of a self-denying, virtuous, noble life, be expected to understand or appreciate the character and motives of this son of God? {LP 311.3}

Paulus, den gamle fange, uden penge, uden venner, uden råd, var bragt frem fra et modbydeligt fangehul for at prøves for sit liv. Han havde levet et fattigt, selvfornægtende og lidelsesfuldt liv. Med en følsom natur som tørstede efter kærlighed og sympati, havde han trodset forkerte fremstillinger, bebrejdelse, had og mishandling; veget tilbage fra smertens og farens store rædsel, havde han frygtløst udholdt de begge. Ligesom sin mester, en hjemløs omstrejfende på jorden, havde han levet og lidt for sandhedens sag, forsøgt at lette menneskehedens byrder, og vise Kristi liv fra eksempler i hans liv. Hvordan kunne det forventes at den lunefulde, lidenskabelige og tøjlesløse tyran, som ikke havde begreb om selvfornægtelsens, dydighedens og det ædle livs værdi, at han ville forstå eller påskønne denne Guds søns karakter og motiver?