Yesterday, I spent an hour or so looking at the timeline of the life of Paul the Apostle. I was trying to put into my mind the relationship between Paul’s years of free and open ministry to the amount of time he spent in jail. About a dozen times, in his epistles, Paul refers to himself either “in chains,” “in bonds,” or as a “prisoner.” Those references meant something to him, and he often used them in his exhortations to the saint. So they should mean something to us.
The handout I’ve given to you is a generalized outline of his life, which I’ve gleaned from two books on my library shelves. One of my sources was: “A Harmony of the Life of St. Paul,” by Frank J. Goodwin. The second is a larger book by F.F. Bruce titled, “Paul, Apostle of the Heart Set Free.” As I thought about it, the title of that second book is ironic in the light Paul’s self-given title: “the prisoner of the Lord.” What I wanted to see was how long or how often Paul’s body was not free, even when his heart was.
Despite using different dates, both of my authors generally agree about the length of Paul’s various ministries. Basically, Paul enjoyed an open and unfettered ministry for only about twenty years. During those two decades, Paul and his associates went on four missionary journeys, three of which are described in the Book of Acts. In fifteen years to twenty-five years, they set fires all over the place which eventually grew together into a conflagration, consuming the western world. Between his third trip and his fourth, Paul was locked up for five years in Caesarea and eventually in Rome. In other words, for about a quarter of his ministry he served his Saviour as a prisoner of one sort of another. And in that, I am only considering those two major imprisonments. Those five years in prison don’t include episodes like his night in the county remand center at Philippi.
In II Corinthians 11:23, while comparing himself to others, he said, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.” What did he mean by “deaths oft?” Does that refer only to threats against him, and attempted murders? After his arrest at Jerusalem “certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.” Is this Paul’s meaning? Does“deaths oft” refer to the black cloud under which he lived his life? Or was it more than once when he was stoned and left for dead, and the Lord raised him up again? If you look at my little handout, you’ll see that II Corinthians was written years before his major imprisonments, but it was after the stoning he received while in Lystra.
Before making a devotional application, I’d like to share some of Paul’s references to his imprisonments.
Listen carefully, because there will be a short quiz when I’m done. Ephesians 3:1 – “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles” have these things to say to you… Ephesians 4:1 – “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” Ephesians 6:20 – “I am an ambassador in bonds; that there I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Philippians 1:7 – “I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” Philippians 1:13 – “My bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.” Colossians 4:3 – Pray for us, “that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.” Verse 18 – “The salutation by the hand of me, Paul. Remember my bonds, grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 1:8 – “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.” Verse 16 – “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain.” 2 Timothy 2:9 – “Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” Philemon 1 – “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer…” Philemon 9 – “Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”
My first question in the light of these verses is: “How many times did Paul say, ‘Oh, woe is me, I am in jail?’” Not once in these or in any other scripture to the best of my knowledge, did Paul ever feel sorry for himself because of his chains or because of any other of the limitations on his ministry, such as health or weariness. He was never angry with anyone about what they had done to him. And while never denying the Lord’s sovereignty over his life, he was never unhappy with the Lord over his problems or predicaments. He agreed with Peter and James, that it was an exceeding great honor to suffer for Christ’s glory.
Here is a second question: “How often did Paul wish that others could be jailed along with him?” Did he hope that his persecutors could taste the same blood, whips and chains as he? Never. Did he pray that other Christians might suffer as he was suffering so that the gospel might be further spread? Certainly not in so many words, if at all. In Acts 26 when he was standing before Festus and Agrippa in chains he said, “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” Even in this he wasn’t complaining about his own chains.
Finally, here is a third question: “How often did Paul say that he was a Roman prisoner, or that he was in Jewish chains?” Not once. Instead of these words, he called himself “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ” or as “the prisoner of the Lord,” or he speaks of his “bonds in Christ.” In other words, he didn’t consider himself a political prisoner, or as a guest of the Roman empire. What he was doing in the service of the Lord, whether in chains or free, was due to his relationship to the Saviour.
With these things in mind, I’d like to make a couple of quick Christian applications.
First, bonds and chains can come in various forms.
For Paul, sometimes there were chains and prison bars, and sometimes even stocks which held his feet or hands like vise grips. And there were other occasions, as when he was in Rome, he was under house arrest with a guard or two watching over him. But, since he doesn’t speak of “Roman imprisonments,” is it possible that at times he was thinking about other things beyond bonds? For example, when he refers to imprisonment by the Lord, could he be thinking about His ministry as a servant of God? He might have pictured himself as a prisoner to the Lord’s will even in Ephesus or Corinth. I’m not saying that he did. In fact that might be a bit of a stretch, but isn’t “prisoner” a possible synonym for “a slave for Christ?” And again, let me stress, whatever it is, Paul doesn’t not speak of it as a bad thing.
Now, what about you? Do you ever feel as if you are imprisoned – or at the very least being kept in a temporary holding cell? There are so many limitations placed on our time and our situation, they might be likened to a jail. For example, we are definitely the prisoner of our own body. Judy used to work with children with bright minds, but whose bodies were enslaved by disabilities. Any of us can get like that from time to time. A virus may have us trapped at home, or arthritis might put a chain around our ankles or wrists. So you can’t go door-to-door sharing the gospel with your neighbors, because your knees or your lungs won’t permit it. And your bad heart keeps you from standing behind the gospel pulpit. Does this mean there is nothing you can do for the Lord’s glory? I don’t think so.
We all know women, and even men, who are locked into marriages which limit their ability to serve Christ. And that brings up the limitations of gender in general. There are homes for battered and abused women, where I might not be permitted to minister. And even if I could get inside, I might not be heard simply because I am a man. And it may be that some Christian ladies would make great preachers of the gospel. But the Lord forbids them that opportunity, and yet other doors are opened to them.
Then there is the matter of age. It creeps up on us all, and we find that we can’t do what we once did. None of the scriptures which I read a few minutes ago refer to any limitations like this. But for the sake of a lesson, let’s apply them in that direction. There are bonds and chains which the sovereign God lays upon us. They aren’t to be cursed. We are supposed to be like Paul, praising God for others who can do what we cannot because of our chains. And in the mean time, we need to praise the Lord for the ability to do those few things which we can.
And what are some of those which we can do while in our little prison?
After Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem, the Lord gave him the opportunity to preach to Festus, Agrippa and Felix. Perhaps those ears would never have been available to Paul, if he hadn’t been arrested. When surgery takes us into that little white cell in the hospital, people are brought into our lives who would otherwise never be there. And if we are confined to home, sometimes neighbors become available, or perhaps it is other relatives. Take advantage of each open door – or in this case, each closed door. No matter where we are, we have the opportunity and responsibility to live holy lives, bringing glory to our Saviour.
After Paul’s inter-prison transport to Rome, another set of doors were opened to him. In Philippians 1:13 he said, “My bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.” What palace was that? Philippians was written from Rome. Most likely he was brought before Roman judges, perhaps even into governmental palaces, and it was demanded that he declare why he was there. What a tremendous open mike. What an opportunity to be a Christian before the unbelievers.
The Book of Acts closes with the words – “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” In his Roman imprisonment – in his house arrest – he received guests – strangers, Jewish leaders, and many Christian friends. The Roman Jews came to Paul’s “jail” shortly after his arrival, “to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” He could also privately witness of Christ. He led Onesimus, Philemon’s former servant, to the Lord, apparently, in just that limited way.
Not only did Paul preach and expound God’s Word – like an incarcerated maffia boss, in some ways he oversaw the missionary enterprise from his jail cell. For example, there were instructions which he gave to Timothy who was ministering back in Ephesus. I don’t know whether Silas or Barnabas ever visited Paul in Rome, but he had other friends come by, some of whom were well-known in Christian circles in that day. He wrote to Timothy, “Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.”
While in Rome he wrote and received letters from various churches. There were a few epistles which were written while he was ministering in one church or another. But the majority were penned when he had this time and opportunity, because he wasn’t flying from one place to another. So Paul made the most of his limitations – his imprisonments. He looked at them as imprisonments by and for the Lord.
And again, what is your prison? Do you look at yours the same way that Paul did? No matter what it might be, there are still things you can do for the Lord. Have you been sentenced to another six years of teenagerism? Praise God, because you have access to people and situations that parents do not have, and which will be taken from you when you enter your 20’s. Use that incarceration for the Lord’s glory. Are you unable to get out and about? You can still pray for the preaching of word, and you can pray that others might go in your place. You can use the phone to encourage people whom you know are going through rough times. Maybe sharing a bit of your cash could be used by the Lord. And there is your Instagram account. Use that for Christ.
I honestly often feel like I am bound. For example, I am bound by the few hours there are in any given day or week. There are things I would like to do, but I can’t because other important things tie up my hands. What I must do – what we all have to do – is use even our limitations for the Lord’s glory. May “God… open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which (we are) in bonds” – Colossians 4:3.