Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
The Lord - the more because men, even friends (Psalms 27:10), deserted me.
Stood with me - stronger than 'came forward with me' (2 Timothy 4:16).
Strengthened, х enedunamoosen (G1743)] - 'put strength within me.'
By me - `through me:' through my means. One single occasion is often of the greatest moment. The (Gospel) preaching might be fully known, х pleeroforeethee (G4135)] - performed (note, 2 Timothy 4:5).
That all the Gentiles - present at my trial "might hear" the Gospel. Rome was the capital of the Gentile world, so that a proclamation of the truth to the Romans, in the bar of the highest earthly tribunal, was likely to go forth to the whole Gentile world.
I was delivered out of [ ek (G1537 )] the mouth of the lion - namely, Satan, the roaring, devouring lion (Luke 22:31; 1 Peter 5:8). I was prevented falling into his snare (2 Timothy 2:26; Psalms 22:21; 2 Peter 2:9). 2 Timothy 4:18 agrees with this interpretation, "the Lord shall deliver me from х apo (G575)] every evil work" - namely, both from evil and the Evil One, as the Greek of the Lord's Prayer means. The change from х ek (G1537)] "out of" to х apo (G575)] "from," points to removal from all the evil efforts х poneerou (G4190), expressing active wickedness] against him (Ellicott). It was not deliverance from Nero (called the lion) which he rejoiced in, for he did nor fear death (2 Timothy 4:6-8) (and it is doubtful whether Nero was then at Rome), but deliverance from the temptation, through fear, to deny his Lord. Ellicott, less appositely, 'from the greatest danger' (1 Corinthians 15:31).