
Paul’s Pastoral Epistles, First and Second Timothy and Titus, give some indications that Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment and then, sometime later, incarcerated again. Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded in a Roman prison after completing his fourth missionary journey.
That final missionary expedition may have included visits to Spain (Romans 15:24), Philippi and Thessalonica in Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3), Ephesus (1 Timothy 3:14), Troas (2 Timothy 4:13), Corinth and Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20), Crete (Titus 1:5) and Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). Unfortunately, the Book of Acts doesn’t contain a twenty-nineth chapter to detail Paul’s final movements.
When Paul’s faithful and obedient services were completed, he wrote: “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6–8 (CSB)
It's quite possible that Paul was sitting in a dark dungeon, hearing the executioner’s keys jingle as he came for his prisoner. His words, “the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6, NKJV), clearly indicate that he knew his death was imminent.
But as Paul waited for his own martyrdom, he could review his life knowing that he’d been found faithful! He’d fought and won. He’d run with endurance. He’d been obedient to his Master.
And he knew that to live would mean additional opportunity to represent Jesus, but to die would mean entering his eternal reward (Philippians 1:21). He was confident that to be separated from his body by death would usher him into his “home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
If a historian, someone like Dr. Luke, were to record our last journey, our final expedition, would they write a story of obedience and faithfulness? Like Paul, will we sprint to the finish line? Will we be found faithful?
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).

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