As regards his imprisonment at Rome, most of the ancient writers are of the opinion that, although nearly all his friends forsook him at the time when he was to make his defense, he, being brought before Cesar, defended himself so cleverly against the accusations of the Jews, that he was set free for this time. But how true this is, we leave to its own merits, and to the omniscient God. This much, however, is certain, that while in prison at Rome, he wrote to his spiritual son Timothy, that he was now ready to be offered as a drink offering, and that the time of his departure was at hand; but that he took comfort in the thought, that he had fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith, and that there was laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, should give him at that day. 2 Tim. 4:6–8. According to ancient records he was then beheaded at the command of Nero, outside of Rome, on the road that leads to Ostia, called _Via Ostiensis_, where the Romans used to have their place of execution, in the last year of Nero, or about A. D. 69. _Joh. Gys._ in the _History of the Martyrs_, from _Joseph Scaliger_, about Paul. _Egesipp. Hist. Destruc. Jerusal., lib. 3, cap. 2. Konst-tooneel van veertig heerlijke afbeeldingen Christi en sijner Apostelen_, printed _Anno 1609_; about the life of Paul. _Itinerarium Sacræ Scripturæ, per H. Bunting_, translated into the Dutch by _Matthias Hazard_; printed _Anno 1642_, in the _Travels of Paul, page 162. col. 1._ THE MARTYRDOM OF SOME OF PAUL’S FRIENDS AND BRETHREN WHO WERE IMPRISONED WITH HIM SHORTLY AFTER HE WAS OFFERED UP; BESIDES OTHERS WHO WERE SLAIN AFTERWARDS. It is related that shortly after the death of the Apostle Paul, his brethren and fellow-prisoners, whom he mentions in the epistles which he wrote from his prison, namely: Aristarchus, Epaphras, Aquila, Prisca, Andronicus, Junias, Silas or Silvanus, Onesiphorus, etc., followed in his footsteps in suffering for the name of Christ. ARISTARCHUS, A TRAVELING COMPANION OF PAUL, SLAIN AT ROME, UNDER NERO, ABOUT A. D. 70. Aristarchus, a native of Thessalonica, was, with Gaius, Paul’s companion in his journey from Macedonia to Asia; with which Gaius he was apprehended at a certain time, in an uproar at Ephesus, but for that time made his escape. Afterwards, however, he was brought to Rome a prisoner, just at the time that Paul also was apprehended for the testimony of Jesus Christ. This friend of God saluted the church at Colosse by the hand of Paul; of which Paul makes mention, writing, “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you.” Col. 4:10.