How did Paul's attitude toward his trials compare to the apostles' at the crucifixion?
Paul bore his trials with the same mental attitude the apostles had at the crucifixion, viewing his sufferings in light of the resurrection. Although pressed beyond strength and despairing of life, he trusted God who raises the dead, who delivered and would yet deliver him.
Les explains that the apostle Paul likely had much the same mental attitude about his trials and tribulations—especially as they relate to the resurrection—that Peter and the other apostles experienced at the time of the crucifixion. Paul was pressed out of measure, above strength, even despairing of life, unsure whether he would live to finish his ministry. Yet he had the sentence of death in himself so he would not trust in himself but in God, who raised the dead, delivered him, and would yet deliver him. The early believers were under constant pressure, but the Lord who permitted the affliction also had strength to bring them through it.
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: