What does 2 Timothy 3:11 mean?
The previous verse listed seven traits in which Timothy "followed" Paul. Paul's meaning is that Timothy has both direct personal knowledge, and experience, with these things. He knows he can trust Paul's message, because he has seen Paul act out the very things he is teaching others. Verse 11 adds that Timothy also had close association with Paul's persecution in places like Antioch, Lystra, and Iconium. Timothy was present in at least some of Paul's persecutions (Acts 16). Regardless of the problems, Paul could say "the Lord rescued me."In Pisidia Antioch, religious opponents stirred up persecution to chase Paul out of the city (Acts 13:50–51). Lystra was even worse; Paul was stoned until the crowd thought he was dead, and then dumped outside of the city (Acts 14:19). Timothy was from Lystra and may have witnessed this event (Acts 16:1). It was here that Timothy joined Paul and became a missionary with him.