Onesimus The Run-away Slave

The Great Apostle Paul

One day Tychicus rode up. I was thrilled to see him, but his usual smile was absent.
“Greetings in Jesus’ name and welcome, Tychicus,” I said. I knew he brought bad news.
He came in and greeted each of us. The women were just placing supper on the table and we were all hungry. Tychicus was unusually silent while we ate. After a while I asked, “What’s wrong, Tychicus?”
“Onesimus, I have bad news.” he said. “Paul sent me to find you and tell you that he is in prison again in Rome.”
I rose from the table. “That’s the most evil news I could ever hear, but thank you for telling me. I will go to him first thing in the morning.”
 I walked outside and stood in the waning light, looking toward Rome, where the best friend I ever had was again in Roman hands - a prisoner for Jesus. I felt a hand on my arm and looked down into Martha’s tear-stained face.
“Onesimus,” she said, “we both love him so much. I hate being left alone but you must go to him.”
“I know, my darling. I’ll leave early in the morning.”
I went in and spoke to Tychicus
“Onesimus,” he said, “if you’ll just wait one day. I’ll appreciate it I rode hard to get here and I know you’ll ride hard going back. My horse badly needs a day of rest.”
We waited.
Martha packed my things for another trip. My sheepskin that Philemon bought me when I first went to him was one thing I never traveled without.
We left early on the second day and rode hard, saying little to each other and stopping to speak to no one on the way. We did give the horses a chance to drink and rest once in a while, but we rode until dark. Before daylight, we were in the saddles again.
Paul was in good spirits when we walked into his cold, clammy dungeon cell. The stench was so bad that it almost took my breath. I could not keep from weeping, as I saw huge rodents running into their holes to escape our invasion. I glanced at Tychicus and saw that tears welled in his eyes.
“I’m the one in chains, Brethren, not you,” he said lightheartedly.
“But Brother Paul,” I said, “if I could, I would gladly change places with you.”
“One has already taken my place, Onesimus,” he said. “When Jesus died on the cross, he took my place. Now I am honored to suffer this small inconvenience for Him.”
“I know, but it is a shame that such a one as you should be in this dark and dismal, dank cell.”
“Tell me about you,” Paul said, changing the subject. “How is your family, Onesimus?”
I talked for over an hour about my work in Gubbio and Abraham’s camp. He was delighted to hear about Jacobus, that he was such a talented boy.
“Now, tell me about your arrest,” I requested.
 “Well, when I was released from prison before, I went to Ephesus and spent some time there. Then I visited Colosse and told them about you and the service you were to me and to the Lord Jesus. Philemon and many others asked me to bring you Christian greetings.”
I nodded and he continued. “From Colosse I went to Heirapolis then to Laodicia, mostly because the caravan I traveled with chose to go there. I didn’t want to travel alone. I had sent word for Titus to join me as soon as he could, and he found me at Fair Haven. I organized a church there and left Titus in charge of it. I visited many churches and sent epistles to those I could not go to in person. Finally I went to Troas and spent some time with the church there and stayed in the home of Carpus, who is a good friend of mine.”
Paul walked to the table for a drink of water. He paced the floor in silence for several minutes then resumed speaking.
“Forgive me, Brethren,” he sat down and leaned toward us, “but I must tell you some sad news. Even as our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of his own, so I was betrayed by one of our own. He had fallen from grace, and sought the goodwill of the Romans. He told them I was in the home of Carpus and was an enemy of Rome. That night we heard a loud knock on the door and when Carpus opened it, four Roman soldiers came in with drawn swords. They told me I had three minutes to gather the items I wanted to take to prison with me.
“I was kept in jail in Troas for about two months, and then put on a caravan under guard, going to Ephesus. Many of my friends deserted me, fearing they, too, would be arrested.
“Demas left me, but he had already begun to love this present world more than he loved our Lord. Trophimus went as far as Miletus with me, but he took sick, so I urged him to stay at Miletus and rest. I went on to Ephesus alone.”  He took a deep breath and then continued.
“I was taken before the Roman Proconsul in Ephesus for trial. It would appear that most of the citizens of Ephesus have gone into a mad frenzy, worshipping the goddess Diana. My preaching repentance and the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ angered the priests of Diana. They knew that if the Ephesians became Christians, they could no longer sell their images on almost every corner, or practice their witchcraft for large payments of gold or silver.  They tried to have put me to death there, but I appealed to Caesar again, and since I am a freeborn Roman, they had to send me back here to Rome.
“Things really look bad for me this time. The officers who guarded me before are no longer here. The present ones have no regard for me, and they certainly hate Christ. I am treated as any other political prisoner. If I were not a freeborn Roman, I would have beheaded by now. Hundreds have been martyred since I arrived here.”
Paul leaned his shivering body against the cold stone wall, closed his eyes and took another deep breath. He was pale and his voice was shaky. It was obvious that he was weak and spent.
“My dear Brother Paul,” I said with tears, “is there anything I can do for you, anything at all?”
He was silent for a few moments, and then said, “I have two letters that must be delivered. I hesitate to ask you to do it, but there are few disciples with me now. Most have deserted for fear of persecution. I sent Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is still with me and will be coming here later tonight. I’ll send Tychicus to Ephesus, for since I was there in prison, there is a greater persecution against the Christians. He will be able to comfort and encourage them.”
“Give me the letters and tell me where to take them,” I said. “With God’s help I will deliver them,” I promised.
“Onesimus, I love you greatly. You are my son in the Lord, and a faithful friend,” Paul said with deep emotion.
As he stood I noticed this man – small by nature, now was so frail he looked even smaller. He slowly reached out his trembling hand to grasp a filthy looking cup to sip another drink of water before continuing. “One letter goes to the elders of the church in Phenice, and the other one to the pastors in Fair Haven. I’m sure you know both of these places are on the Isle of Crete.”
“Yes,” I replied, “and I’ll be glad to deliver them for you.”...