Apostle Paul in Prison

When Apostle Paul was arrested and put into prison during his visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21), it is very likely that the churches gathered together to pray most passionately for his release. This was probably more so in Paul's churches. One can imagine the tears and overnight prayer sessions on behalf of the one who had done more for the church's expansion than anyone else. No one else came close. One can imagine the prayers they offered up to God --

     "Almighty God. You perform miracles upon miracles! We have witnessed how you freed Peter in the jail in Jerusalem (Acts 12) and Paul in Philippi (Acts 16). All thing are possible with you! And we are talking about your great servant Paul! Free him, Lord!"
     "You are the changer of hearts, O Creator of all things. Move in the hearts of the authorities to see the light and release Paul from prison so that the world will know you are Lord!"
     "Jesus, you came to release the captives, those who are unjustly treated and imprisoned. You know that Paul is a classic example of this. Release him, Jesus! Set him free, O God!"

But none of those prayers free Paul. Days pass and then weeks. The prayer meetings become less frequent and small doubts begin to creep in. And then some of his opponents and haters most likely begin to beat their drums:

     "Perhaps it is God's will to keep him locked up!"
     "Maybe God is not answering your prayers because God is punishing him because he did something wrong. What could that be?"
     "Could it be that he was the one preaching the wrong gospel and we are preaching the right one (Gal 1)? Maybe God is stopping him from preaching it."
     "We know God is all powerful and we know God can free him if God so chooses. So, why isn't Paul set free? What does God know that we don't? Hmmm?"

In 2 Timothy, Paul writes about some of those who sided with these haters, who now felt ashamed of being associated with Paul -- there was Phygelus and Hermogenes (1.15) and Demas (4.10) to mention a few. Paul is worried that Timothy might side with them and so he writes, "Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner" (1.8). In fact, in the four chapters of 2 Timothy, Paul uses the word "ashamed" four times, and his letter contains a number of personal apologetics as a way of defending himself from such attacks.

It must have been a tough time for him.

He had to first convince himself that the attacks against him had no validity. Or did they? So why was Paul not set free? So why is he still in jail when there is still so much work to do? A man of prayer? A man of miracles? So where is that power now? How come you can't get out, Paul?

After a lengthy time of prayer for release, Paul had to have come to a conclusion that God didn't want him set free. Paul already understood that not all of his prayers get answered the way he wants ("thorn in the flesh" 2 Cor 12), and his life's many troubles are a testament to that (his many enemies and problematic churches). And so Paul's next step would have been to seek out answers as to why Paul is kept in prison.

In the earlier prison letter to the Philippians, Paul writes, "I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me [being in jail] has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known through the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear" (1:12-14). With joy Paul writes that his presence inside jail walls has opened up a new ministry opportunity for him! This is a shout out to all those prison ministries!

Kyrgyzstan 2001 English Club

In this later prison letter that is 2 Timothy, he speaks with more candor about his prison situation, that it's difficult and that he does "suffer hardship" (2.8-10). And with friends and colleagues separating themselves from him, Paul is both sharp-tongued (calling them by name) and rather down on himself, "As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (4.6-7).

And he holds to these truths:

1. Even if the situation seems bleak and dark, know that God does rescue us and comes to our aid at all times (3.10-11)
2. Being persecuted for being a Christian simply comes with who we are and what we are trying to do (3.12; 4.5). This is even true inside the church. There are plenty of ways to please the people and so get on their good side (3.1-9; 4.3-4), but that would be wrong. Avoid doing that! Be different from them even if that's unpopular (3.5; 3.14f; 4.5).
3. It's kind of lonely at these times (4.9-22). With only Dr. Luke by his side, Paul calls on his son in faith, Timothy to come quickly to see him (4.9, 13, 21). I hope Timothy was able to get to Paul's side and encourage him. I think Paul needed that, badly.