2 Timothy 4:17

The Lord, however, had not abandoned His faithful servant on that occasion but had strengthened Paul. Evidently Paul was able to give a word of witness at his hearing that furthered his mission to the Gentiles. He had so far escaped death, though he was ready to die as a martyr. The "lion’s mouth" may be a reference to the lions in the Roman Coliseum that were then devouring Christians. However the Romans would have beheaded Paul rather than thrown him to the lions since he was a Roman citizen. This phrase may be a veiled reference to Nero or probably a more general allusion to Satan’s instruments of evil that have always sought to destroy God’s faithful servants (cf. Daniel 6:22; Psalms 22:21; Matthew 6:13; 1 Peter 5:8).