2 Timothy 1:16-17

‘The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me.’

And then into the bleakness of his experience came a shining light (Matthew 5:16; Matthew 25:36). For one day as he sat there in his cell, he heard the door grinding open, and into his cell strode Onesiphorus who explained that he was sorry that it had taken so long, but he had been looking for him diligently and had only just discovered in which prison he was. Only those who have gone through such an experience of darkness and aloneness would understand the joy that must have filled Paul’s soul. Not all in Asia Minor were ashamed of him after all. And Onesiphorus probably did not even realise what he had done for Paul. No wonder Paul cried, ‘The Lord grant compassion to the household of Onesiphorus (as he has had compassion on me)’. From what Onesiphorus had done his whole household, relatives and servants, would benefit (compare Acts 16:31). For here was one who knew what it meant to have, not a spirit of fearfulness, but ‘a Spirit of power and love and sound judgment’ (Compare 2 Timothy 1:7).

‘And was not ashamed of my chain.’ This tells the whole story. Perhaps the Asian leaders had suggested to themselves that Paul must ‘clearly have done something wrong’, so that they were ashamed to associate with him as ‘a criminal’. As Christians they could not be expected to have dealings with a criminal. But there was no such thought with Onesiphorus. His first thought on learning of Paul’s situation had been to find him and visit him, for the love of Christ constrained him, and he knew Paul for what he really was, and he loved him.

‘For he often refreshed me.’ And from then on, in spite of the obvious danger of visiting a prisoner who was to be brought before Nero, Onesiphorus often visited him no doubt bringing him both physical and spiritual refreshment.

In this small vignette we have the picture of a man’s loyalty and faithfulness to one to whom he owed so much. But there is in this incident also a wonderful pointer to the love of Christ to us too, for He also, when He knew that we were imprisoned in the darkness of sin, and chained to our old life, sought us diligently and found us.