in this duty. [148:5] It would appear that Paul’s chain might be relaxed at meal-times, and perhaps he was occasionally granted some little additional indulgence; but day and night he and his care-taker must have remained in close proximity, as the life of the soldier was forfeited should his ward escape.  We can well conceive that the very appearance of the preacher at this period invited special attention to his ministrations.  He was now “Paul the aged;” [149:1] he had perhaps passed the verge of threescore years; and though his detractors had formerly objected that “his bodily presence was weak,” [149:2] all would at this time have, probably, admitted, that his aspect was venerable.  His life had been a career of unabated exertion; and now, though worn down by toils, and hardships, and imprisonments, his zeal burned with unquenched ardour.  As the soldier who kept him belonged to the Praetorian guards, it has been thought that the apostle spent much of his time in the neighbourhood of their quarters on the Palatine hill, [149:3] and that as he was now so much conversant with military sights and sounds, we may in this way account for some of the allusions to be found in his epistles written during his present confinement.  Thus, he speaks of Archippus and Epaphroditus as his “fellow-soldiers;” [149:4] and he exhorts his brethren to “put on the whole armour of God,” including “the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.” [149:5] As the indefatigable old man, with the soldier who had charge of him, passed from house to house inviting attendance on his services, the very appearance of such “yoke-fellows” [149:6] must have created some interest; and, when the congregation assembled, who could remain unmoved as the apostle stretched forth his chained hand, [149:7] and proceeded to expound his message!  He seems himself to have thought that the very position which he occupied, as “the prisoner of the Lord,” [149:8] imparted somewhat to the power of his testimony.  Hence we find him saying—­“I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the Praetorium, [150:1] and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” [150:2]

During this imprisonment at Rome, Paul dictated a number of his epistles.  Of these, the letter to Philemon, a Christian of Colosse, seems to have been first written.  The bearer of this communication was Onesimus, who had at one time been a slave in the service of the individual to whom it is addressed; and who, as it appears, after robbing his master, had left the country.  The thief made his way to Rome, where he was converted under the ministry of the apostle; and where he had since greatly recommended himself as a zealous and trustworthy disciple.