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2 Timothy 4:16
ESV At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
NIV At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
NASB At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.
CSB At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.
NLT The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.
KJV At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

What does 2 Timothy 4:16 mean?

Roman law typically gave prisoners a preliminary hearing before a full trial. In Paul's case, in this trip through the legal system, he made his defense without his fellow believers there for support. This was likely due to the fact that Christians were targeted for persecution by Nero. Following a series of fires in Rome in the summer of AD 64, Christians were blamed. Given the political climate of that time, anyone who stood by Paul at his first defense would likely have been jailed along with him.

Paul seems to understand this, and instead of bitterness, he offers forgiveness. Jesus made a similar statement from the cross (Luke 23:34), as did the first martyr Stephen while Paul watched the coats of those who stoned him (Acts 7:58—8:1). Though Paul had been charged with a crime, he did not want any "charge" against those who failed to stand with him at his hearing.

At the same time, this sheds some personal light on Paul's earlier appeal to Timothy not to be "ashamed" of his faith (2 Timothy 1:8), or to be afraid of suffering for the sake of Christ.
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