2 Timothy 4:19; 2 Timothy 1:16-18
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
EDWARD PAYSON (1783-1827): Onesiphorus appears to have been an Ephesian of wealth and distinction, and who had in various ways, and on different occasions, manifested a generous concern for the apostle’s welfare.
ALEXANDER WHYTE (1836-1921): Whatever brought Onesiphorus from Ephesus to Rome, we are left in no doubt as to what he did before he left Rome and returned to Ephesus.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): When others did not know Paul because he was a prisoner, Onesiphorus knew him. He sought him out diligently—though probably the population at that time was not less, but perhaps far more than four millions of people.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): The apostle was not in any particular place of confinement, but had a lodging where he was kept by a soldier, and which with some difficulty Onesiphorus found out: the manner of his bonds was this; he had a long chain fastened at one end to his right arm, and at the other to the left arm of the soldier that kept him, who constantly attended him in this form, wherever he went.
ALEXANDER WHYTE: Paul might be the greatest of the apostles to Onesiphorus, and to you and to me, but he was only “Number So and So” to the soldier who was chained night and day to Paul’s right hand.
C. H. SPURGEON: You could not tell in Rome where a prisoner was. The registers were not open to investigation. You had to go from prison to prison, and pay the guards to get admission, or to be told who might be there, and Onesiphorus was determined to find Paul. I suppose that he went to the Mamertine, a dungeon in which some of us have been—one dungeon under the bottom of another. The first one has no light, except through a round hole at the top, and the second has a round hole through which you drop into the lower one. We think that Paul was there. And then there is the Palatine prison, which was at the guard-house of the Praetorian guards, near the palace on the Palatine Hill. There Paul certainly was.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): Paul was now almost entirely alone. “Only Luke is with me,” he says, 2 Timothy 4:11. But the Lord thought of his deserted and solitary servant. A bright beam, as from the fountain of love, shines amidst the darkness and dreariness of his prison. There was one faithful amidst the general defection, and one who was not ashamed of the apostle’s chain. How peculiarly sweet and refreshing to the heart of the apostle must the ministry of Onesiphorus have been at this time!
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): Paul’s testimony of Onesiphorus, is short, but sweet.
JOHN GILL: “For he oft refreshed me.”—Both with his Christian visits, and spiritual conversation, which to the apostle, in the heat of his affliction and persecution, were like a fan in hot weather, cooling and reviving, as the word signifies; and also by supplying him with the necessaries of life, as food and raiment, or money to purchase them. Onesiphorus answered to his name, which in Greek, signifies, “one that brings profit.”
C. H. SPURGEON: He came to Paul, and talked with him, and probably sang with him, and prayed with him, I have no doubt.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): “And was not ashamed of my chain.” This is a proof, not only of his liberality, but of his zeal; seeing that he cheerfully exposed himself to danger and the reproach of men, in order to assist Paul.
EDWARD PAYSON: His kindness, too, displayed at a time when cool friends prudently kept at a distance, and many of his own countrymen were among his bitterest enemies, made a deep impression upon the grateful heart of Paul.
JOHN GILL: The apostle does not propose to requite him himself; he knew it was out of his power; but he had an interest in the Lord, and at the throne of grace; and he makes use of it.
WILLIAM GURNALL (1617-1679): Saints are the honest debtors we can deal with; they will pay you in their own coin. He that shows any kindness to a saint is sure to have God for his paymaster; for it is their way to turn over their debts to God, and engage Him to discharge their score to man. Onesiphorus had been a kind friend to Paul, and what does Paul do for him? To prayer he goes, and desires God to pay his debts.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Paul prays for Onesiphorus himself, and for his house.
C. H. MACKINTOSH: Onesiphorus was no doubt a Christian, and Paul prayed for him, “that he might find mercy of the Lord in that day”—the time of future rewards. So filled with gratitude was the heart of the apostle for the special kindness of Onesiphorus, when he risked his own life in finding him out, and in ministering to him in prison, that he prayed for a reward that would be the reflection of, and that would commemorate forever, that noble service of love.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): How heartily prayed Paul for Onesiphorus! Mercy, the fruit of God’s faithfulness, covenant kindness—So Paul prayed for Onesiphorus. And such prayers could not be ineffectual.
JOHN CALVIN: From this prayer, we infer that the good offices done to the saints are not thrown away, even though they cannot recompense them; for, when he prays to God to reward them, this carries in it the force of a promise. Paul testifies his gratitude, by desiring that God will grant the remuneration, because he is unable to pay.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): When we can make no other return to our kind friends, we are bound at least to recommend them in our prayers to the Saviour’s mercy, and beg Him to reward them “in that day,” when Jesus comes to reward every kindness shown to His servants.
MATTHEW HENRY: Christ will account all the good offices done to His poor members as done to Himself.
C. H. SPURGEON: And if you need proof of that, let me remind you that our Saviour’s own description of the Day of Judgment runs thus, “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in; naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came unto Me,” Matthew 25:34-36. This, therefore, is evidence that they were blessed of the Father!
THOMAS COKE: How dear is one sincere servant of Christ to another, as partakers of the same faith, and embarked in the same noble cause! How greatly do they all need, and how heartily do they wish, and daily pray for grace, mercy, and peace to be multiplied to one another, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! How affectionately are they desirous of each other’s company, especially in times of great tribulation! How tenderly do they sympathize one with another in their afflictions!—May the Lord be gracious to such and their families; and grant them mercy!
