What condition was Paul in while imprisoned in Rome waiting to be executed?
While imprisoned in Rome and awaiting the executioner's sword, Paul was wracked with pain, his body suffering the consequences of spending his physical life and energies to get the gospel to the pagans. Though his body suffered, those he reached came out of pagan and spiritual darkness into the joy and life of the gospel.
Les explains that Paul had spent his physical life and physical energies getting the gospel to the pagans, so they were coming out of pagan and spiritual darkness into the joy and life of the gospel, but his body was suffering the consequences. Les says he is sure the old fellow must have been wracked with pain as he sat in prison in Rome waiting for the executioner's sword, because he had been through so much for the sake of the gospel. Even in that condition, Paul had the same spirit of faith, believing as it is written, though it does not tell us anything else he did but that he believed.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.