The trial fell into two parts, for he speaks of his "first defence" (II Tim. 4: 16).

Evidently he had been remanded: the presiding judge having pronounced the word

Amplius, an adjournment had taken place, and the Apostle seized the opportunity to write

his last letter to his beloved son Timothy. Hatred of the Christians now ruled men's

minds, and a charge of treason, from which there would be no hope of acquittal, would be

laid against the Apostle.

Somewhere outside the city walls, along the Via Ostiensis, where now stands the

church of San Paolo fouri le mura, the Apostle was led forth from his dungeon to

execution. In the days of the Republic this would have been effected by the lictor's axe,

but under Nero, it was accomplished by the sword. It is not for us to follow the traditions

of men as to what became of Paul's body after his death. He had finished his course, he

had kept the faith, he was assured that there awaited him "at that day" a crown. We can

rejoice that what seemed most like defeat, was victory. He was "more than conqueror"

through Christ Who loved him.

While there are other features that are of interest, we feel that enough has been said for

the object in view, and that we have proved the value of knowing something of

contemporary history as we study the Acts and Epistles. With the good fight ending with

Paul's martyrdom we therefore bring this series of studies to a close.

Where actual quotations have been made, the author's name is given, but in a subject

of this character which can be prepared only by consulting authorities, indebtedness to

the writings of others for much of the information cannot be formally acknowledged. A

list of the works chiefly consulted in the acquisition of most of the historic material used

is, however, appended, and the interested reader who is inclined to pursue the subject

further will find that this will afford good ground from which to make deeper research

than can be attempted here, where we are but writing a series of brief articles.