Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console him concerning his father. But when David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites,

And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.”

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my

imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my

chains;

for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

I appeal to you for my child

Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

Boldly

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

“Cry loudly, do not hold back;
Raise your voice like a trumpet,
And declare to My people their transgression
And to the house of Jacob their sins.

But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’

Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,

And all that I command you, you shall speak.

I am sending you to them who are

stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’

What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much

opposition.

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

General references

Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am

restricted; I cannot go into the house of the Lord.

so that my

imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,

Brethren, pray for us.