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By this time we ought to be independent of the historian and to be able to write Paul's diary with our own hand. There are some friends we need not consult because we know exactly how they would address themselves to every embarrassment. The historian pays us a compliment in condensing into two little verses the industry of two years in Rome, as if he should say, "You know how the years would be occupied." A prisoner who has a case on appeal, how will he occupy himself during that period of waiting? If you inquire about a stranger, you will say, "He will spend his time in setting up his case." Is Paul occupied in getting up his case? Read ver. 31. At the last as at the first — just the same. In other cities Paul went about finding opportunities, opening doors and boldly entering in. Is he doing that now during those two years in Rome? Observe the construction of the sentence and make your own inference. "Paul dwelt" — Paul "received all that came in unto him." But Paul occupied his two years in doing something more than preaching. He would have been but a name today had he not occupied his time in writing his immortal epistles. Only a few can ever hear the living voice; but the writing lives. What should we have known of Paul but for the Epistles?

I. Let us look into PHILIPPIANS. What an insight that gives us into his life at Rome.

1. In Acts 1:12 we read: "I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me" — he makes nothing of them where we should have made a great moan — "have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." In prison or out of prison Paul was occupied with one theme. Read ver. 28, "in nothing terrified by your adversaries," etc." The encouragement comes from the man with whom we were about to sympathise. Read Acts 4:4. When we opened the letter we said: "Where is there a man amongst us with voice plaintive enough to read the minor music?" Read, again, Acts 1:21, and you will find the basis line upon which the whole is built. There is not a word about the appeal; the only reference is to Christ and to the Church. Was there not great basis of doctrine under all this high sentiment? Read Acts 2:5-11. But was Paul speaking after the manner of a man who had counted the cost of this? Did he really know what he was doing? Read Acts 3:7-11. But was he one who had nothing to lose? Hear him in the same chapter: "If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more," etc. Reading this letter, I have no hesitation in saying that men with such views cannot be in prison. The views themselves are like a great firmament. Such men cannot want (Acts 4:11, etc.). Nero is a poor man compared with his prisoner, and such men cannot die (Acts 3:20-21). Do you admire Paul in these circumstances? Paul was only Paul because Christ was Christ. When Paul receives our homage he points us in one direction, and says, "God forbid that I should glory," etc.

II. Let us now look into EPHESIANS. In Acts 3:1 he describes himself as "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles," in Acts 4:1 as "the prisoner of the Lord," in chap. viz 20 as "an ambassador in bonds." This is the way in which to use a chain, an infirmity of any kind. Paul does not whine about himself being a prisoner; but says, "It is the Lord's chain." He is not a prisoner of Caesar, but a prisoner of Christ. Look at his care of souls (Ephesians 1:16-23). He asked no mean gifts for the Christian soul, but all heaven's riches. Then his care for the Church as a whole (Ephesians 4:32). He lays an infinite line even upon social relations, differences, and controversies, and rules them into order by the very grandeur of his appeal. People have admired the apostle's logic; my own feeling is that none could love like Paul. Next we have his care for the family. Not one member of the household is omitted (Ephesians 5:25, etc.).

III. Let us now look into COLOSSIANS. In the last line he says, "Remember my bonds." A word is enough to those whose hearts are in right tune. How did the great apostle regard his fellow labourers? Did he so tower above them as to be unconscious of their existence? (Read Acts 4:10, 12, 14.) Paul did not forget anybody. No touch of a gentle hand ever escaped his notice, who stands next to Christ in the wisdom and penetration of his love. And if the servant does not forget, can He forget who is Master? The Lord is not unrighteous to forget your work of faith and labour of love.

IV. Let us look into PHILEMON. Paul entreats Philemon as "Paul the aged." Cunning writer! He was not "Paul the aged" when labour was to be done, when suffering was to be undergone, when tyrants were to be faced; but when a slave was to be reinstated, Paul thought that if he represented himself as an old man, it would have a happy effect upon the sensibilities of Philemon. I do not know that Paul would have cared to have been called "Paul the aged," yet he is willing to describe himself as such, because that might count for something and moisten the eyes of Philemon. Talk about the equality of men, and the over getting of social difficulties; read ver. 17. This is said about a runaway, penitent slave! Why, he could not have given a nobler introduction to Caesar. This is what Christianity would do today: bring back every man that had wronged you, bring back every wanderer and reconstruct the household circle. Christianity harmonises the classes, not by dragging any class down, but by lifting all classes up. Paul said, with the audacity of an invincible faith, "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account" — a man who had not where to lay his head! But he knew he could pay all such obligations as that: "Albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides." Yes, these are the great debts that exist between man and man — not a debt of gold, but the debt of self. This is the debt which people owe to the great authors, thinkers, and preachers of the day. Conclusion: These are the letters; is the writer a fanatic? I will believe it when fanatics reason as he does. Is he a self-seeker? I will believe it when self-seekers suffer as he did. When you want to know what Christians are, do not look at us, but look at Paul. We ought to follow him as he followed Christ.

(J. Parker, D. D.)

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KJV: And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

WEB: Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who were coming to him,