The Apostle kept the goal before him — Christ. He allowed nothing to divert the attention of his heart, and thus he was energized for and sustained in the path of peculiar trial, reproach and labor to which the Lord had called him. To him the end was so blessed, to have Christ for his own and to be found in Him, that he cared not how bitter and rugged the path might be which led him to it. He desired a yet deeper experimental knowledge of Christ and the power of His resurrection (and who knew it better than he?) and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. To him it was no small privilege to drink of His cup and to be baptized with His baptism. Indeed, the deeper his sufferings, the more he would be like Christ, and that was enough for him.
W. W. Fereday