a prisoner in chains
Deep Calling Deep takes place while Paul was under house arrest in Rome. He was confined to rented quarters for two years. But he was not alone—and I’m not talking about the guard that was chained to him 24/7.
The letters he wrote during this time mention at least ten people who spent some time with him in his prison-home.
Philippians: Timothy and Epaphroditus
Colossians: Timothy, Epaphras, Tychicus, Aristarchus, John Mark, Jesus Justus, Onesimus, Luke, and Demas.
Ephesians: Timothy, John Mark, Tychicus
Philemon: Timothy, Epaphras, John Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, Onesimus
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- Let’s start with Luke. Luke was a physician, possibly Greek. He was with Paul for many of his travels, and along with Aristarchus, was on the sea voyage with Paul from Jerusalem to Rome. Luke was with Paul at the very end of Paul’s life, visiting—and probably caring for—him in the notorious Mamertine prison as he awaited his execution.
- Aristarchus was a Jewish convert from Thessalonica, who then accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. On that trip, he and Gaius were accosted by the followers of the silversmith who feared his livelihood would be stripped away if the Ephesians decided to abandon their idols and follow Jesus. After that, he was with Paul on his trip back to Jerusalem, and then to Rome.
[inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]Paul was under house arrest for two years, but he was not alone—and I’m not talking about the guard that was chained to him 24/7. [/inlinetweet] - Epaphras was a minister in Colossae. (Though Epaphras is a nickname for Epaphroditus, he should not be confused with Epaphroditus from Philippi.) It seems he established the churches in Colossae, and perhaps in Laodicea and Hierapolis as well. The news he brought about the congregation at Colossae prompted Paul to write a letter to them. This letter was sent back with Tychicus and the slave Onesimus, while Epaphras stayed with Paul in Rome. Paul calls him his “fellow prisoner.”
- Tychicus had traveled with Paul on his third missionary journey, and then from Greece to Jerusalem and was possibly an Ephesian. Paul called him “a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord,” and entrusted him with letters to the churches in Colossae, Philemon, and what we know as his letter to the Ephesians, though originally it may have been a circular letter destined for all the churches in the Roman province of Asia.
He also appears to have delivered Paul’s last letter, 2 Timothy. This would have allowed Timothy to hurry to Rome while Tychicus watched over the church at Ephesus. - Mark was likely John Mark, the son of Mary and the cousin of Barnabas. Mark, if you recall, had left Paul and Barnabas about 12 years earlier, causing a split between the two. Paul was deeply disappointed and no longer trusted Mark—but obviously he changed his mind along the way. By this point, Paul had plans to send Mark to Colossae from Rome and asked the church to welcome him. During Paul’s final imprisonment, the apostle instructs Timothy to bring Mark with him when he comes to Rome.
- Demas is with Paul at some point. He is complimented as Paul’s “fellow-worker.” But when the apostle writes to Timothy as he awaits death, he says Demas was “in love with this present world,” and had deserted him.
- Epaphroditus was from Philippi, and either was a pagan or his family was; his name means “belonging to Aphrodite.” But at some point, he decided to follow Jesus, perhaps during Paul’s first visit to his hometown about 12 years earlier. He had journeyed to Rome, bringing financial support to Paul on behalf of the Philippian congregation. Either on the journey or while he ministered to Paul in Rome, he became deathly ill. Paul told his fellow Philippians, “he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” Once recovered, Epaphroditus returned home with Paul’s letter. Paul referred to him as a “fellow-worker,” “fellow-soldier,” and “minister to my need.”
- Onesimus was a slave from Colossae who had abandoned his master, Philemon, and fled to Rome. He may have stolen money from his owner. As Philemon was prominent in the Colossian church, Onesimus may have previously met Paul. He once again encountered Paul in Rome, who led him to the Lord. He stayed for a while, assisting Paul, who knew that according to Roman law he had to be returned to his owner. He wrote Philemon and urged him to receive Onesimus “no longer as a servant, but more than a servant”—as “a beloved brother.” Paul all but ordered Philemon to free him. Onesimus was sent home in the company of Tychicus. Paul said he was a “faithful and beloved” kinsman in the Lord and that he had “been useful to him in ministry.”
- Jesus Justus was a companion of Paul’s in Rome, but we know nothing more except that he was a valued Jewish co-worker, and the apostle considered him a source of comfort.
- Timothy was probably closer to Paul than any other person on earth, and on several occasions, Timothy is warmly commended by the great apostle. Paul calls him his “true son in the faith.” Born in Lystra, he was probably led to the Lord by Paul when the apostle first visited that city about 14 years earlier, and then later accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey.
In his final letter, Paul asks Timothy to “do your best to come to me quickly” and “do your best to get here before winter.” He also tells him to bring Mark.
We don’t know if Timothy made it before Paul was executed. But l believe as close as they were Timothy would have moved heaven and earth to see the man who meant so much to him before it was too late. To Timothy, Paul was more than a renowned teacher, the foremost apostle. He was father, mentor, companion, friend.
No wonder Paul says,