Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Philippians 1:13
So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other [places];
13. So that, &c.] Render, So that my bonds are become manifest (as being) in Christ. In other words, his imprisonment has come to be seen in its true significance, as no mere political or ecclesiastical matter, but due to his union of life and action with a promised and manifested Messiah.
in all the palace ] Greek, “ in the whole Prtorium (praitrion).” The word occurs elsewhere in N. T., Mat 27:27; Mar 15:16; Joh 18:28; Joh 18:33; Joh 19:9; Act 23:35; in the sense of the residence, or a part of it, of an official grandee, regarded as a prtor, a military commander. (Not that the word, in Latin usage, always keeps a military reference; it is sometimes the near equivalent of the word villa, the country residence of a Roman gentleman.) The A.V. rendering here is obviously an inference from these cases, and it assumes that St Paul was imprisoned within the precincts of the residence of the supreme Prtor, the Emperor; within the Palatium, the mansion of the Csars on the Mons Palatinus, the Hill of the goddess Pales. In Nero’s time this mansion (whose name is the original of all “palaces”) had come to occupy the whole hill, and was called the Golden House. The rendering of the A.V. is accepted by high authorities, as Dean Merivale ( Hist. Rom. vi. ch. 54), and Mr Lewin ( Life and Epistles of St Paul, ii. p. 282). On the other hand Bp Lightfoot (on this verse, Philippians, p. 99) prefers to render “in all the Prtorian Guard,” the Roman life-guard of the Csar; and gives full evidence for this use of the word Prtorium. And there is no evidence for the application of the word by Romans to the imperial Palace. To this last reason, however, it is fair to reply, with Mr Lewin, that St Paul, as a Provincial, might very possibly apply to the Palace a word meaning a residency in the provinces, especially after his long imprisonment in the royal Prtorium at Csarea (Act 23:35; Act 24:27). But again it is extremely likely, as Bp Lightfoot remarks, that the word Prtorium, in the sense of the Guard, would be often on the lips of the “soldiers that kept” St Paul (Act 28:16); and thus this would be now the more familiar reference. On the whole, we incline to the rendering of Lightfoot, (and of the R.V.) throughout the (whole) Prtorian Guard. Warder after warder came on duty to the Apostle’s chamber (whose locality, on this theory, is nowhere certainly defined in N. T.), and carried from it, when relieved, information and often, doubtless, deep impressions, which gave his comrades knowledge of the Prisoner’s message and of the claims of the Saviour.
Other explanations of the word Prtorium are ( a) the Barrack within the Palatium where a detachment of Prtorians was stationed, and within which St Paul may have been lodged; ( b) the great Camp of the Guard, just outside the eastern walls of Rome. But the barrack was a space too limited to account for the strong phrase, “in all the Prtorium”; and there is no evidence that the great Camp was ever called Prtorium.
Wyclif renders, curiously, “in eche moot (council) halle”; Tyndale, Cranmer, and Geneva, “throughout all the judgment hall.”
in all other places] Better, to all other (men); to the Roman “public,” as distinguished from this special class. The phrase points to a large development of St Paul’s personal influence.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
So that my bonds in Christ – Margin, for. The meaning is, his bonds in the cause of Christ. He was imprisoned because he preached Christ (see the notes, Eph 6:20), and was really suffering because of his attachment to the Redeemer. It was not for crime, but for being a Christian for had he not been a Christian, he would have escaped all this. The manner of Pauls imprisonment was, that he was permitted to occupy a house by himself, though chained to a soldier who was his guard; Act 28:16. He was not in a dungeon indeed, but he was not at liberty, and this was a severe mode of confinement. Who would wish to be chained night and day to a living witness of all that he did; to a spy on all his movements? Who would wish to have such a man always with him, to hear all he said, and to see all that he did? Who could well bear the feeling that he could never be alone – and never be at liberty to do anything without the permission of one too who probably had little disposition to be indulgent?
Are manifest – That is, it has become known that I am imprisoned only for the sake of Christ – Grotius. The true reason why I am thus accused and imprisoned begins to be understood, and this has awakened sympathy for me as an injured man. They see that it is not for crime, but that it is on account of my religious opinions, and the conviction of my innocence has spread abroad, and has produced a favorable impression in regard to Christianity itself. It must have been a matter of much importance for Paul to have this knowledge of the real cause why he was imprisoned go abroad. Such a knowledge would do much to prepare others to listen to what he had to say – for there is no man to whom we listen more readily than to one who is suffering wrongfully.
In all the palace – Margin, Or, Caesars court. Greek, en holo to praitorio – in all the praetorium. This word properly denotes the generals tent in a camp; then the house or palace of a governor of a province, then any large hall, house, or palace. It occurs in the New Testament only in the following places: Mat 27:27, where it is rendered common hall; Mar 15:16, rendered Praetorium; Joh 18:28, Joh 18:33; Joh 19:9; Act 23:35, rendered judgment hall; and here in Phi 1:13. It is employed to denote:
(1)The palace of Herod at Jerusalem, built with great magnificence at the northern part of the upper city, westward of the temple, and overlooking the temple;
(2)The palace of Herod at Caesarea, which was probably occupied by the Roman procurator; and,
(3)In the place before us to denote either the palace of the emperor at Rome, or the praetorian camp, the headquarters of the praetorian guards or cohorts.
These cohorts were a body of select troops instituted by Augustus to guard his person, and have charge of the city; see Robinson (Lexicon), Bloomfield, Rosenmuller, and some others, understand this of the praetorian camp, and suppose that Paul meant to say that the cause of his imprisonment had become known to all the band of the praetorians.
Grotius says that the usual word to denote the residence of the emperor at Rome was palatium – palace, but that those who resided in the provinces were accustomed to the word praetorium, and would use it when speaking of the palace of the emperor. Chrysostom says that the palace of the emperor was called praetorium, by a Latin word derived from the Greek; see Erasmus in loc. Calvin supposes that the palace of Nero is intended. The question about the meaning of the word is important, as it bears on the inquiry to what extent the gospel was made known at Rome in the time of Paul, and perhaps as to the question why he was released from his imprisonment. It the knowledge of his innocence had reached the palace, it was a ground of hope that he might be acquitted; and if that palace is here intended, it is an interesting fact, as showing that in some way the gospel had been introduced into the family of the emperor himself. That the palace or residence of the emperor is intended here, may be considered at least probable from the following considerations:
(1) It is the name which would be likely to be used by the Jews who came up from Judea and other provinces, to denote the chief place of judgment, or the principal residence of the highest magistrate. So it was used in Jerusalem, in Cesarea, and in the provinces generally, to denote the residence of the general in the camp, or the procurator in the cities – the highest representative of the Roman power.
(2) If the remark of Chrysostom, above referred to, be well founded, that this was a common name given to the palace in Rome, then this goes far to determine the question.
(3) In Phi 4:22, Paul, in the salutation of the saints at Rome to those of Philippi, mentions particularly those of Caesars household. From this it would seem that some of the family of the emperor had been made acquainted with the Christian religion, and had been converted. In what way the knowledge of the true cause of Pauls imprisonment had been circulated in the palace, is not now known. There was, however, close intimacy between the military officers and the government, and it was probably by means of some of the soldiers or officers who had the special charge of Paul, that this had been communicated. To Paul, in his bonds, it must have been a subject of great rejoicing, that the government became thus apprised of the true character of the opposition which had been excited against him; and it must have done much to reconcile him to the sorrows and privations of imprisonment, that he was thus the means of introducing religion to the very palace of the emperor.
And in all other places – Margin, to all others. The Greek will bear either construction. But if, as has been supposed, the reference in the word praetorium is to the palace, then this should be rendered all other places. It then means, that the knowledge of his innocence, and the consequences of that knowledge in its happy influence in spreading religion, were not confined to the palace, but were extended to other places. The subject was generally understood, so that it might be said that correct views of the matter pervaded the city, and the fact of his imprisonment was accomplishing extensively the most happy effects on the public mind.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. My bonds – are manifest in all the palace] In consequence of the public defence which he was obliged to make, his doctrines must be fully known in the court, and throughout the whole city, as on his trial he would necessarily explain the whole. The praetorium, , which we here translate palace, signifies the court where causes were heard and judged by the praetor or civil magistrate; it sometimes signifies the general’s tent, and at others, the emperor’s palace. It is supposed that it is used in this latter sense here. There were, no doubt, persons belonging to the emperor’s household who would bring the news of so remarkable a case to the palace; for we find that there were Christians even in Caesar’s household; Php 4:22.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds; and here again, contrary to the expectation of those persecutors, who designed to make havoc of the church, his innocent carriage and constancy in bearing the cross, had all influence upon the greater part of
the brethren (not according to the flesh, Rom 9:3, but) in the service of Christ.
Are much more bold to speak the word without fear; pastors, and teachers, who had been timorous at the first, were greatly imboldened to shake of carnal fear, and to profess and preach Christ crucified, or the cross of Christ, 1Co 1:18,23, which is the power of God to salvation, Rom 1:16, more confidently than ever; as he and Barnabas had done elsewhere, Act 13:46; and as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who were but secret disciples before Christs sufferings, upon his death owned him openly for their Lord, Mat 27:57, with Joh 19:39.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. my bonds in Christratheras Greek, “So that my bonds have become manifest inChrist,” that is, known, as endured in Christ’s cause.
palaceliterally,”Prtorium,” that is, the barrack of the Prtorian guardsattached to the palace of Nero, on the Palatine hill at Rome; not thegeneral Prtorian camp outside of the city; for this was notconnected with “Csar’s household,” which Php4:22 shows the Prtorium here meant was. The emperor was”Prtor,” or Commander-in-Chief; naturally then thebarrack of his bodyguard was called the Prtorium. Paul seems nownot to have been at large in his own hired house, though chained to asoldier, as in Act 28:16; Act 28:20;Act 28:30; Act 28:31,but in strict custody in the Prtorium; a change which probably tookplace on Tigellinus becoming Prtorian Prefect. See Introduction.
in all other placessoCHRYSOSTOM. Or else, “TOall the rest,” that is, “manifest to all the other”Prtorian soldiers stationed elsewhere, through the instrumentalityof the Prtorian household guards who might for the time be attachedto the emperor’s palace, and who relieved one another in succession.Paul had been now upwards of two years a prisoner, so that there wastime for his cause and the Gospel having become widely known at Rome.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So that my bonds in Christ,…. What he had more darkly hinted before, he more clearly expresses here; the things that happened to him were his bonds; he was now a prisoner at Rome and in chains; though he had the liberty of dwelling alone in his own hired house, and of his friends coming to see him and hear him, yet he was bound with a chain, and under the care and guard of a soldier continually, who held one end of it. These bonds of his were not for debt, which he took care not to run into, but chose rather to work with his own hands, and so ministering to his own and the necessities of others, that he might not eat any man’s bread for nought; nor for any capital crime, as murder, or theft, or anything that was worthy of death or of bonds; but his bonds were in Christ, or for Christ’s sake, for professing Christ and preaching his Gospel; he was a prisoner in the Lord, or for his sake; see Eph 4:1. The use of his sufferings, which is more generally signified in Php 1:12, is here and in Php 1:14 more particularly related, and the several instances of it given, these his bonds for the sake of Christ, he says,
are manifest in all the palace, and in all other [places], or “my bonds are manifest in Christ”, as the words may be read; that is, by the means of Christ, he causing them to be taken notice of by men, and some of the first rank: by his bonds being manifest may be meant he himself who was bound; who by his bonds became known to persons, to whom in all probability he would otherwise have remained unknown; as to Felix, and Festus, and King Agrippa, and others in Caesar’s court: or the Gospel for the sake of which he was bound; this was made manifest and became known, not barely notionally, but savingly and experimentally; and even Christ himself the substance of it, for whom he was laid in bonds, by this means came to be known, “in all the palace”. The Arabic version reads it, “in the palace of the emperor”. The word “praetorium”, here used, signifies sometimes the judgment hall, or court of judicature belonging to the Roman governors, as Herod and Pilate; see Ac 23:35; and if it designs any such court at Rome, then the sense is, that through the apostle’s being sent a prisoner to Rome, and his cause heard in the praetorium, or judgment hall, he and the cause of his bonds came to be known by the judges in that court; and which might be the means of the conversion of some of them: sometimes it signifies the general’s pavilion in the camp, and sometimes the emperor’s palace at Rome, he being the chief “praetor”, or magistrate; and so here it seems to design Nero’s house or court, where the Gospel, through the apostle’s bonds, had made its way to the conversion of many there; see Php 4:22; and in all other places; or as the Arabic version renders it, “with all other men”; for it may be understood either of men or places; and that Christ and his Gospel came to be known through the apostle’s sufferings, not only in the court of judicature where his cause was tried, or in Caesar’s palace, and to many of his courtiers, but in other places in Rome, and parts of the empire, and to many persons there, both Jews and Gentiles; so that what was intended for the disadvantage of the Gospel, proved for the service of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Throughout the whole praetorian guard ( ). There were originally ten thousand of these picked soldiers, concentrated in Rome by Tiberius. They had double pay and special privileges and became so powerful that emperors had to court their favour. Paul had contact with one after another of these soldiers. It is a Latin word, but the meaning is not certain, for in the other New Testament examples (Matt 27:27; Mark 15:16; John 18:28; John 18:33; John 19:9; Acts 23:35) it means the palace of the provincial governor either in Jerusalem or Caesarea. In Rome “palace” would have to be the emperor’s palace, a possible meaning for Paul a provincial writing to provincials (Kennedy). Some take it to mean the camp or barracks of the praetorian guard. The Greek, “in the whole praetorium,” allows this meaning, though there is no clear example of it. Mommsen and Ramsay argue for the judicial authorities (praefecti praetorio) with the assessors of the imperial court. At any rate Paul, chained to a soldier, had access to the soldiers and the officials.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
My bonds in Christ are manifest [ ] . Bonds and Christ, in the Greek, are too far apart to be construed together. Better, as Rev., my bonds became manifest in Christ. His imprisonment became known as connected with Christ. It was understood to be for Christ ‘s sake. His bonds were not hidden as though he were an ordinary prisoner. His very captivity proclaimed Christ.
In all the palace [ ] . Rev., throughout the whole praetorian guard. So Lightfoot, Dwight, Farrar. This appears to be the correct rendering. The other explanations are, the imperial residence on the Palatine, so A. V.; the praetorian barracks attached to the palace, so Eadie, Ellicott, Lumby, and Alford; the praetortan camp on the east of the city, so Meyer. 174 The first explanation leaves the place of Paul ‘s confinement uncertain. It may have been in the camp of the Praetorians, which was large enough to contain within its precincts lodgings for prisoners under military custody, so that Paul could dwell “in his own hired house,” Act 28:30. This would be difficult to explain on the assumption that Paul was confined in the barracks or within the palace precincts.
The Praetorians, forming the imperial guard, were picked men, ten thousand in number, and all of Italian birth. The body was instituted by Augustus and was called by him praetoriae cohortes, praetorian cohorts, in imitation of the select troop which attended the person of the praetor or Roman general. Augustus originally stationed only three thousand of them, three cohorts, at Rome, and dispersed the remainder in the adjacent Italian towns. Under Tiberius they were all assembled at Rome in a fortified camp. They were distinguished by double pay and special privileges.
Their term of service was originally twelve years, afterward increased to sixteen. On completing his term, each soldier received a little over eight hundred dollars. They all seem to have had the same rank as centurions in the regular legions. They became the most powerful body in the state; the emperors were obliged to court their favor, and each emperor on his accession was expected to bestow on them a liberal donative. After the death of Pertinax (A. D. 193) they put up the empire at public sale, and knocked it down to Didius Julianus. They were disbanded the same year on the accession of Severus, and were banished; but were restored by that emperor on a new plan, and increased to four times their original number. They were finally suppressed by Constantine.
The apostle was under the charge of these troops, the soldiers relieving each other in mounting guard over the prisoner, who was attached to his guard ‘s hand by a chain. In the allusion to his bonds, Eph 6:20, he uses the specific word for the coupling – chain. His contact with the different members of the corps in succession, explains the statement that his bonds had become manifest throughout the praetorian guard.
In all other places (toiv loipoiv pasin). Rev., correctly, to all the rest; that is, to all others besides the Praetorians.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest” (hoste tous desmous mou phanerous en christo) “To-the extent that my bonds in Christ are manifest or do appear.” His bonds or chains for Christ were real, literal, not merely mental suppression. The term “bonds” refers not merely to his imprisonment, but to the intimidating, demeaning chains.
2) “In all the palace” (genesthai en holo to pratorio) “To become (manifest) in all the praetorium,” or in Caesar’s praetorium, court, Php_4:22. Paul was on prison display, made a publicly visible object of derision for the palace review. In these bonds of derision Paul had no shame of the gospel, Rom 1:16.
3) “And in all other places” (kai tois loipois pasin) “And in all other places,” or to all others, other people … the general public. He, like our Lord on the cross, seems also to have been put in visible chain-bonds to be observed by the general public to pass by and deride, Luk 23:35.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
13 So that my bonds He employs the expression — in Christ, to mean, in the affairs, or in the cause of Christ, for he intimates that his bonds had become illustrious, so as to promote the honor of Christ. (55) The rendering given by some — through Christ, seems forced. I have also employed the word illustria (illustrious) in preference to manifesta , (manifest,) — as having ennobled the gospel by their fame. (56) “Satan, indeed, has attempted it, and the wicked have thought that it would turn out so, that the gospel would be destroyed; but God has frustrated both the attempts of the former and the expectations of the latter, (57) and that in two ways, for while the gospel was previously obscure and unknown, it has come to be well known, and not only so, but has even been rendered honorable in the Praetorium , no less than in the rest of the city.” By the praetorium I understand the hall and palace of Nero, which Fabius (58) and writers of that age call Augustale , ( the Augustal.) For as the name praetor was at first a general term, and denoted all magistrates who held the chief sway, (hence it came that the dictator was called the sovereign praetor, (59)) it, consequently, became customary to employ the term praetorium in war to mean the tent, either of the consul, (60) or of the person who presided, (61) while in the city it denoted the palace of Caesar, (62) from the time that the Cesars took possession of the monarchy. (63) Independently of this, the bench of praetor is also called the praetorium (64)
(55) “ Ses liens ont este rendus celebres, et ont excellement serui a auancer la gloire de Christ;” — “His bonds had become celebrated, and had admirably contributed to advance the glory of Christ.”
(56) “ Pource qu’il entend que le bruit qui auoit este de ses liens, auoit donné grand bruit a l’Euangile;” — “Because he means that the fame, which had arisen from his bonds, had given great fame to the gospel.”
(57) “ Dieu a aneanti les efforts malicieux de Satan, et a frustré les meschans de leur attente;” — “God has made void the malicious efforts of Satan, and has disappointed the wicked of their expectation.”
(58) Our author has most probably in view an expression which occurs in the writings of Quinctilian, (Instit. Orator., lib. 8, 2, 8,) — “ tabernaculum ducis Augustale;” — (“a general’s tent is called the Augustal.”) In the best editions of Quinctilian, however, the reading of Augurale , as synonymous with auguraculum , or auguratorium ; — ( an apartment for the augur’s taking omens.) — Ed.
(59) The dictator is called by Livey, “ praetor maximus ; ” — “ the highest praetor. ” — ( Liv. 7:3.) — Ed.
(60) “ La tente ou du consul, ou de celuy qui estoit chef de l’armee, quelque nom qu’on luy donast;” — “The tent of the consul, or of the person who was head of the army, whatever name was applied to him.”
(61) “ Praeibat ” — There is manifestly an allusion here to the etymology of praetor, as being derived from praeire, to go before, or preside. — Ed.
(62) “At Rome it “(the term praetorium )” signified the public hall where causes were tried by the praetor; but more usually it denoted the camp or quarters of the praetorian cohorts without the city….. The name of praetorium was, in the provinces, given to the palace of the governors, both because they administered justice, and had their guards stationed in their residence. Hence it is inferred that, although the Apostle was at Rome when he wrote this, and although the circumstances to which he refers occurred in that city, yet, writing to persons residing in the provinces, he uses the word praetorium in the provincial sense, and means by it the emperor’s palace. ” — Illustrated Commentary. — Ed.
(63) “ Depuis que les empereurs usurperent la monarchie;” — “From the time that the emperors usurped the monarchy.”
(64) “ Pretoire signifioit aussi le lieu ou le preteur tenoit la cour, et exerçoit sa iurisdiction;” — “The praetorium signified also the place where the praetor held his court, and exercised jurisdiction.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) My bonds in Christ are manifest.Properly, My bonds are made manifest as in Christi.e., my captivity is understood as being a part of my Christian life and work, and so becomes a starting-point for the preaching of the gospel. So St. Paul made it to the Jews (Act. 28:20), For the hope of Israel am I bound in this chain. (Comp. Eph. 6:20, I am an ambassador in bonds.)
In all the palace, and in all other places.The word palace is prtorium. It is elsewhere used in the New Testament: first, of the palace of Pilate; in Mat. 27:27, Mar. 15:16, apparently, of the soldiers guardroom, or barrack; in Joh. 18:28; Joh. 18:33; Joh. 19:9, of the hall of judgment; and next in Act. 23:35, of the judgment hall of Herod, evidently forming a part of the palace of Felix. (It may be noted that coincidence with this last passage is the chief, and almost the sole, argument for the untenable idea that this Epistle belongs to the Csarean and not the Roman captivity.) Its sense here has been disputed. It has been variously interpreted as the emperors palace, or the praetorian barrack attached to it, or the prtorian camp outside the walls. Its original meaning of the head-quarters of a general would lend itself well enough to any of these, as a derivative sense. The first or the second sense (which is virtually the same) is the interpretation of all ancient commentators, and suits best with the mention of Caesars household in Php. 4:22, but not very well with the historical statement in Act. 28:16-30, that St. Paul dwelt in his own hired house, with a soldier that kept him. The other sense suits better with this last statement, and also with the delivery of the prisoner to the captain of the guard, i.e., literally, the commander of the camp, or prtorian prefect, and perhaps with abstract probability in the case of an obscure Jewish prisoner. But the difficulty is that, although the word might be applied to any of these places, yet, as a matter of fact, it is not found to be so applied. Moreover, we notice here that the words in all other places are an inaccurate rendering of a phrase really meaning to all the rest (see marginal reading). The connection therefore seems even in itself to suggest that the prtorium may more properly refer to a body of men than to a place. Accordingly (following Dr. Lightfoot), since the word prtorium is undoubtedly used for the prtorian guard, it seems best to take that sense here. My bonds (says the Apostle) are known in all the prtorian regimentsfor the soldiers, no doubt, guarded him by turnsand to all the rest of the world, whether of soldiers or of citizens. This would leave it an open question where St. Paul was imprisoned, only telling us that it was under praetorian surveillance;
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. My bonds in Christ The first result of his imprisonment was a correct and wide-spread intelligence of its true cause and character. We prefer to read, my bonds have become manifest in Christ. Men had come to know that they were connected with Christ, and endured in his service; and that Paul himself was not seditious, turbulent, or a traitor.
All the palace Probably the pretorian camp is meant, the barracks of the imperial lifeguard, perhaps including the detachment quartered near Nero’s palace. The word is never used for the palace of the emperor. See note on Act 28:16, and the cut of Rome.
All other Literally, and to all the rest. Very likely the people who had become familiar with his case; as to-day we say, “every body else.” Soldier after soldier had attended him, to whom he had spoken of the great salvation; visitors Jews, Christians, and pagans had freely received from his lips the “things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.” Act 28:31. Thus soldiers and visitors had learned the true cause of Paul’s imprisonment. To them Christ was preached.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘So that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest,’
The first way in which things had fallen out well was that it had meant that the fact that he was in bondage for Christ’s sake had become known throughout the Praetorian guard, who would also have learned why it was so. We can indeed be sure that each soldier who had found himself chained to Paul soon found that he was being enlightened as to the Gospel, and would of course be witness to his conversations with Christian visitors and all who entered his ‘prison’. We can be sure that some would even be converted. Thus the word of Christ’s saving work was spreading among people who in normal circumstances would have been difficult to reach with the Gospel of Christ, and all due to Paul’s imprisonment.
‘Throughout the whole Praetorian guard’ does not necessarily have to be taken literally. The thought is rather that it spread widely among them. (We can see someone saying, ‘they’re all talking about you’). ‘All the rest’ may suggest that it had spread also among other soldiers, or alternatively among many private citizens, but the main intention is in order to emphasise the widespread way in which the Gospel was being propagated as a direct result of his imprisonment.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Php 1:13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest “So that my bonds in or for Christ are manifested and taken notice of in all the palace of Caesar, and all other places in and about the city; and have seemed so remarkable, that many have been excited to inquire, much to their own satisfaction and advantage, what there was in this new and unknown religion, which could animate me so cheerfully to endure hardships and persecution in its defence; for they soon traced up my sufferings to this, as their only cause.” Mr. Peirce would render this verse, So that it is manifest, both in the Pretorium and elsewhere, that my bonds are for Christ; that is, “that I suffer only for the sake of Christianity, and not for any real crime.” And Dr. Heylin gives nearly the same interpretation:So that my imprisonment for the sake of Christ is now publicly known at the court, and in all other places.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Phi 1:13 . . . .] so that my bonds became manifest in Christ , etc. This introduces the actual result of that , and consequently a more precise statement of its nature . [59] does not belong to , alongside of which it does not stand; but . is to be taken together, and the emphasis is laid on , so that the did not remain or , as would have been the case, if their relation to Christ had continued unknown, and if people had been compelled to look upon the apostle as nothing but an ordinary prisoner detained for examination. This ignorance, however, did not exist; on the contrary, his bonds became known in Christ , in so far, namely, that in their causal relation to Christ in this their specific peculiarity was found information and elucidation with respect to his condition of bondage, and thus the specialty of the case of the prisoner, became notorious. If Paul had been only known generally as , his bonds would have been ; but now that, as or (Eph 4:1 ; Eph 3:1 ; Phm 1:9 ), as (1Pe 4:16 ), he had become the object of public notice, the of his state of bondage, as resting , was thereby brought about, a , consequently, which had its distinctive characteristic quality in the . It is arbitrary to supply with (Hofmann). Ewald takes it as: “ shining in Christ,” i.e . much sought after and honoured as Christian. Comp. also Calvin, and Wieseler, Chronol. d. apost. Zeitalt . p. 457. But, according to New Testament usage, does not convey so much as this; in classical usage (Thuc. i. 17. 2, iv. 11. 3; Xen. Cyr . vii. 5. 58, Anab . vii. 7. 22 and Krger in loc. ) it may mean conspicuous, eminent .
] is not the imperial palace in Rome (Chrysostom, Theodoret, Oecumenius, Theophylact, Erasmus, Luther, Beza, Calvin, Estius, Cornelius a Lapide, Grotius, Bengel, and many others, also Mynster, Rheinwald, and Schneckenburger in the Deutsch. Zeitschr . 1855, p. 300), which is denoted in Phi 4:22 by , but was never called praetorium . [60] It could not well, indeed, be so called, as is the standing appellation for the palaces of the chief governors of provinces (Mat 27:27 ; Joh 18:28 ; Joh 19:9 ; Act 23:35 ); hence it might and must have been explained as the Procurator’s palace in Caesarea , if our epistle had been written there (see especially Bttger, Beitr . I. p. 51 f.). But it is the Roman castrum praetorianorum , the barracks of the imperial body-guard (Camerarius, Perizonius, Clericus, Elsner, Michaelis, Storr, Heinrichs, Flatt, Matthies, Hoelemann, van Hengel, de Wette, Rilliet, Wiesinger, Ewald, Weiss, J. B. Lightfoot, and others), whose chief was the praefectus praetorio , the , to whom Paul was given in charge on his arrival in Rome (Act 28:16 ). It was built by Sejanus, and was situated not far from the Porta Viminalis, on the eastern side of the city. [61] See Suet. Tib . 37; Tac. Ann . iv. 2; Pitiscus, Thesaur. antiq . III. 174; and especially Perizonius, de orig., signif. et usu vocc. praetoris et praetorii , Franeq. 1687, as also his Disquisitio de praetorio ac vero sensu verborum Phil . i. 13, Franeq. 1690; also Hoelemann, p. 45, and J. B. Lightfoot, p. 97 ff. does not mean the troop of praetorian cohorts (Hofmann), which would make it equivalent to (Herodian, viii. 8. 14). [62]
The becoming known in the whole praetorium is explained by the fact, that a praetorian was always present with Paul as his guard (Act 28:16 ), and Paul, even in his captivity, continued his preaching without hindrance (Act 28:30 f.).
] not in the sense of locality, dependent on (Chrysostom, Theodoret, Calvin), but: and to all the others , besides the praetorians. It is a popular and inexact way of putting the fact of its becoming still more widely known among the (non-Christian) Romans, and therefore it must be left without any more specific definition. This extensive proclamation of the matter took place in part directly through Paul himself, since any one might visit him, and in part indirectly, through the praetorians, officers of justice, disciples, and friends of the apostle, and the like. [63] Van Hengel, moreover, understands it incorrectly, as if were specially “homines exteri ,” “ Gentiles ,” a limitation which could only be suggested by the context, and therefore cannot be established by the use of the word in Eph 2:3 ; Eph 4:17 ; 1Th 4:13 . Equally arbitrary is the limitation of Hofmann: that it refers to those, who already knew about him .
[59] “Rem, qualis sit, addita rei consequentis significatione definit,” Ellendt, Lex. Soph . II. p. 1012. Hofmann’s view, that it stands in the sense of , also amounts to this. But Hoelemann is in error in making it assert the greatness of the . Not the greatness, but the salutary effect , is indicated.
[60] Act. Thom. 3, 17, 18, 19, in Tischendorf, Act. apocr . pp. 192, 204 f., cannot be cited in favour of this designation (in opposition to Rheinwald); the there spoken of ( 3) are royal castles , so designated after the analogy of the residences of the Roman provincial rulers . Comp. Sueton. Aug . 72; Tib . 39, et al.; Juvenal, x. 161.
[61] Doubtless there was a praetorian guard stationed in the imperial palace itself, on the Mons Palatinus, as in the time of Augustus (Dio. Cass. liii. 16). See Wieseler, Chronol. d. apost. Zeitalt . p. 404, who understands the station of this palace-guard to be here referred to. But it cannot be proved that after the times of Tiberius, in whose reign the castra praetoriana were built in front of the Viminal gate (only three cohorts having previously been stationed in the city, and that sine castris , Suetonius, Octav . 49), anything else than these castra is to be understood by the wonted term praetorium , , when mentioned without any further definition (as Joseph. Antt . xviii. 6. 7: ).
[62] Not even in such passages as Tacitus, Hist . ii. 24, iv. 46; Suetonius, Num 7Num 7 ; Plin. H. N . xxv. 2, 6, et al ., where the prepositional expression ( in praetorium, ex praetorio) is always local .
[63] This suffices fully to explain the situation set forth in ver. 13. The words therefore afford no ground for the historical combination which Hofmann here makes: that during the two years, Act 28:30 , the apostle’s case was held in abeyance; and that only now had it been brought up for judicial discussion , whereby first it had become manifest that his captivity was caused, not by his having committed any crime against the state, but by his having preached Christ, which might not be challenged (?) on the state’s account. As if what is expressly reported in Act 28:31 were not sufficient to have made the matter known, and as if that precluded the judicial preparation of the case (ver. 7)! As if the increased courage of the , ver. 14, were intelligible only on the above assumption! As if, finally, it were admissible to understand, with Hofmann, among these all those who “even now before the conclusion of the trial were inspired with such courage by it”!
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places ;
Ver. 13. In all the palace ] So in the Diet held at Augsburgh in Germany, A.D. 1530. Caesar reading the Protestants’ confession, and sending it abroad to other Christian princes, as desiring their advice about it, dispersed and spread it more in all parts than all the Lutheran preachers could have done. For which cause Luther laughs agood (heartily) at the foolish wisdom of the Papists, in a certain epistle of his to the elector of Saxony. When Bonner allowed William Hunter, martyr, no more than a half penny a day in prison, he confessed that he lacked nothing, but had meat and clothing enough, yea, even out of the court, both money, meat, clothes, wood and coals, and all things necessary. What friends John Wycliffe found, both in the court of England and in the court of Bohemia, is famously known; and yet the proverb is,
” Exeat aula qui velit esse pius- “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
13 .] so that (effect of this . ) my bonds (the fact of my imprisonment) have become manifest in Christ ( . is to be taken together. They became known, not as a matter simply of notoriety, but of notoriety in Christ , i.e. in connexion with Christ’s cause, as endured for Christ’s sake; and thus the Gospel was furthered) in the whole prtorium (i.e. the barrack of the prtorian guards attached to the palatium of Nero (Dio liii. 16, (monte Palatino) , . See Wieseler’s note, ii. 403 f.): not the camp of the same outside the city (‘castra prtorianorum,’ Tac. Hist. i. 31: Suet. Tiber. 37). That this was so, is shewn by the greeting sent ch. Php 4:22 from , who would hardly have been mentioned in the other case. The word ‘ prtorium ’ is also used of castles or palaces belonging to Csar (Suet. Aug. 72, Tiber. 39, Calig. 37, Tit. 8), or to foreign princes (Act 23:35 , Juv. x. 161), or even to private persons (Juv. i. 75): it cannot be shewn ever to have signified the palatium at Rome, but the above meanings approach so nearly to this, that it seems to me no serious objection can be taken to it. The fact here mentioned may be traced to St. Paul being guarded by a prtorian soldier, and having full liberty of preaching the Gospel (Act 28:30 f.): but more probably his situation had been changed since then, see Prolegg. to this Epistle, iii. 6. I should now say that the , and the , make it more probable that the prtorium is to be taken in the larger acceptation, the quadrangular camp now forming part of Aurelian’s city walls, including also the smaller camp on the Palatine) and to all the rest (a popular hyperbole: i.e., to others, besides those in the prtorium: not to be taken (Chr., Thdrt., E. V.) as governed by and signifying, ‘ in all other places .’ The matter of fact interpretation would be, that the soldiers, and those who visited him, carried the fame of his being bound for Christ over all Rome),
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Phi 1:13 . For the skilful rhetorical structure of Phi 1:13-17 see J. Weiss, Beitr. , p. 17, who compares Rom 2:6-12 . is, on the whole, more common; see Luk 8:29 , Act 16:26 ; Act 20:23 . According to Cobet, Mnemosyne , 1858, p. 74 ff. (quoted in W-Sch [4] , p. 85, n. 8), the neuter form refers to actual bonds, the masc. to the imprisonment. But there seems to be no distinction, e.g. , in Attic Inscrr [5] (see Meisterhans, Gramm. d. attisch. Inschr. , p. 112, n. 1025). And Sch. states that the distinction will not apply to LXX. . . . It has become plain that he is a prisoner wholly for Christ’s sake, and not on account of any breach of law. . must be translated by the English perfect, for, as Moule (CT [6] ) well points out, “our English thought separates present from past less rapidly than Greek”. Of course we must supply . as predicate with . . . . is one of the most keenly contested expressions in the Epistle. Four leading interpretations are found. (1) Those forming the praetorian guard . So Lft [7] , Hfm [8] , Abbott, Hpt [9] , Vinc. This explanation has much in its favour. Those coming up on appeal from the Provinces were handed over for surveillance to the praefecti praetorio (see Marquardt-Momms., ii. 2 3 , p. 972 and n. 2). And Lft [10] ( Com. , pp. 99 104) has shown conclusively that the word admits of this meaning. (2) The barracks or camp of the praetorian guard . So Lips [11] , Kl [12] , Alf [13] , De W., Myr [14] , Ws [15] , Von Soden. But none of these Comm [16] bring direct evidence to show that the name praetorium was ever definitely applied to the castra praetoriana , built under Tiberius at the Porta Viminalis (Tac., Ann. , iv., 2). (3) The emperor’s palace . So Chr [17] , Th. Mps [18] , Thdrt [19] , Beng., Mynster ( Kleine theol. Schriften , p. 184, some strong arguments), Gwynn, Duchesne. In all other passages of N.T. . = residence of the ruler. It is said that it would be impossible for anyone writing from Rome to call the palace . But; as Gw [20] observes, this is a provincial writing to provincials, and using the word in a familiar sense. Further, the change for the better in Paul’s circumstances is connected with the knowledge that his bonds are in Christ. Is it because the authorities (emperor, etc.) have already begun to take a favourable view of his case that the preaching is allowed to prosper without hindrance and that his associates take courage? This interpretation cannot be dismissed altogether lightly. (4) The judicial authorities . So Mommsen ( op. cit. , p. 498) and Ramsay ( St. Paul , etc., p. 357 ff.). These would be the praefecti praetorio (either one or two) with their assessors and other officials of the imperial court. Momms. quotes from a letter of Trajan to Pliny ( Ep. Plin. , 57 [65]), in which he decides that a criminal condemned to exile, but, in spite of this, lingering in the province, should be sent in chains ad praefectos praetorii mei , who are not the prison officials but those concerned with the hearing of cases. This explanation also would agree well with what Paul says about his bonds and the progress of the Gospel. We would hesitate to decide between (1) and (4), the context seeming to support the latter, while, perhaps, favours the former. . . Cf. CIG. , i., 1770, . Apparently a vague phrase = everywhere else.
[4]-Sch. Schmiedel’s Ed. of Winer.
[5]nscrr. Inscriptions.
[6] Cambridge Greek Testament .
[7] Lightfoot.
[8] Hofmann.
[9] Haupt.
[10] Lightfoot.
[11]ips. Lipsius.
[12] Klpper.
[13] Alford’s Greek Testament .
[14] Meyer.
[15] Weiss.
[16]omm. Commentators.
[17] Chrysostom.
[18] Mps. Theodore of Mopsuestia.
[19]hdrt. Theodoret.
[20] Gwynn.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
my bonds, &c. = “my bonds in relation to Christ”; i.e. that my being a prisoner is not on account of any crime, but solely for preaching the gospel.
are = have become.
manifest. See App-106.
palace. Greek. praitorion. Compare Mat 27:27, but Bishop Lightfoot gives good reasons why it could not at Rome be used of the palace, but must refer to the Praetorian guard. This accords with Act 28:30.
in all, &c. = to all the rest (App-124), i.e. to the civilian population.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
13.] so that (effect of this . ) my bonds (the fact of my imprisonment) have become manifest in Christ (. is to be taken together. They became known, not as a matter simply of notoriety, but of notoriety in Christ, i.e. in connexion with Christs cause,-as endured for Christs sake;-and thus the Gospel was furthered) in the whole prtorium (i.e. the barrack of the prtorian guards attached to the palatium of Nero (Dio liii. 16, (monte Palatino) , . See Wieselers note, ii. 403 f.): not the camp of the same outside the city (castra prtorianorum, Tac. Hist. i. 31: Suet. Tiber. 37). That this was so, is shewn by the greeting sent ch. Php 4:22 from , who would hardly have been mentioned in the other case. The word prtorium is also used of castles or palaces belonging to Csar (Suet. Aug. 72, Tiber. 39, Calig. 37, Tit. 8), or to foreign princes (Act 23:35, Juv. x. 161), or even to private persons (Juv. i. 75): it cannot be shewn ever to have signified the palatium at Rome, but the above meanings approach so nearly to this, that it seems to me no serious objection can be taken to it. The fact here mentioned may be traced to St. Paul being guarded by a prtorian soldier, and having full liberty of preaching the Gospel (Act 28:30 f.): but more probably his situation had been changed since then,-see Prolegg. to this Epistle, iii. 6. I should now say that the , and the , make it more probable that the prtorium is to be taken in the larger acceptation,-the quadrangular camp now forming part of Aurelians city walls,-including also the smaller camp on the Palatine) and to all the rest (a popular hyperbole:-i.e., to others, besides those in the prtorium: not to be taken (Chr., Thdrt., E. V.) as governed by and signifying, in all other places. The matter of fact interpretation would be, that the soldiers, and those who visited him, carried the fame of his being bound for Christ over all Rome),
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Php 1:13. , bonds) Paul, delivered up along with other prisoners, seemed on the same footing with them: afterwards it became known that his case was different, and so the Gospel prevailed.-, manifest) Col 4:4.-, in the prtorium) The court of Csar; comp. Php 4:22.-, and) then.- , in the other) places outside of it; 2Ti 4:17. So other, 1Th 4:13.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Php 1:13
Php 1:13
so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard,-[By his trial in Rome it became manifest throughout the whole Praetorian guard that his imprisonment was no political matter, neither was it on account of any crime he had committed; but was wholly due to his union of life and action with Christ.] The household of Caesar was composed of his attendants, courtiers, officers, and guards. Some of Caesars household, probably his servants and humbler class of his retainers, became obedient to the faith. It is probable that the employees in the lower orders connected with the household would pass unnoticed in such things as readily as in any other position in the empire.
and to all the rest;-[To all the Roman public, as distinguished from this special class. This phrase points to an extended development of Pauls personal influence.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the palace
Or, Caesar’s court. Php 4:22.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Act 20:23, Act 20:24, Act 21:11-13, Act 26:29, Act 26:31, Act 28:17, Act 28:20, Eph 3:1, Eph 4:1, Eph 6:20, Col 4:3-18
in Christ: or, for Christ, 1Pe 4:12-16
the palace: or, Caesar’s court, Phi 4:22
in all other places: or, to all others, 1Th 1:8, 1Th 1:9
Reciprocal: Act 13:49 – was Act 23:11 – for 2Co 6:5 – imprisonments 2Co 11:23 – in prisons Phi 1:30 – now Tit 1:3 – manifested
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
(Php 1:13.) -So that my bonds have become known in Christ in the whole praetorium, and to all the rest. The conjunction is followed by the infinitive denoting result, and, as often happens, no demonstrative precedes. On the difference of with the infinitive, and with the indicative, see Klotz, Devarius, ii. p. 772. The apostle gives a first result of his present condition, which tended to forward the gospel. The cause of his imprisonment had come to be known widely, and such knowledge could not be without its fruits. We agree with Meyer and Wiesinger that the words . must be connected-made manifest in Christ. The position of the terms seems to demand this connection-and not such an arrangement as ., as De Wette construes it. In Christ is, in connection with Christ, Eph 4:1. His incarceration had come to be understood in its connection with Christ; not surely the fact of it, but the cause and character of it. Waiting under an appeal to the emperor, he had been discovered to be no common prisoner. It had transpired that his official connection with Christ, and his fearless prosecution of the work of Christ, had led to his apprehension and previous trial in Palestine, and not sedition, turbulence, or suspected loyalty-the usual political crimes of his nation. It was widely known that he suffered as a Christian and as an apostle, especially as the preacher of a free and unconditioned gospel to the Gentiles. And his bonds were naturally made manifest in Christ, first in the edifice where he dwelt-
. Our translators adopted a common idea in rendering by palace. In this they followed the Greek commentators-one of whom says, For up to that time they so called the palace. Erasmus, Beza, Estius, a-Lapide, Bengel, and Rheinwald hold, with some variation, the same opinion. The word does sometimes, in a general way, signify the palace of a king, as in Juvenal 10.161- sedet ad praetoria regis. Also in Act. Thom. 3, we have the phrase . Others, from its name, have supposed it to be the judgment-hall of the praetor. So Luther renders it, Richthaus, and he is followed by the early English translators, as by Wycliffe, who gives in eche moot halle. The word is so used in the Gospels, in connection with the scene of our Lord’s trial, Mat 27:27; Mar 15:16, etc. Cicero refers to Verres as dwelling in domo praetorio, quae regis Hieronis fuit. Thus Huber, Calvin, Grotius, Rheinwald, and Mynster, regard it as a part of the royal edifice- urbanum juri dicendo auditorium. The noun thus denoted sometimes the dwelling of a provincial governor-nay, it came to signify a magnificent private building (alternas servant praetoria ripas, Statius, S. 1, 3, 25), much in the same way that a Glasgow merchant, building a turreted summer residence on some rock or eminence on the western coast, dignifies it by the name of a castle. But the palace of the Roman emperor was never called praetorium. The noun signifies here, the castra praetoriana-the barracks of the imperial lifeguards. The tent of the commander-in-chief was originally called the praetorium-head-quarters; and a council of war, from being held there, received the same designation-(praetorio dimisso, Livy, 30:5). The name was ultimately given to the imperial body-guards, and was naturally transferred to the edifice in Rome which contained them. It was built by Sejanus, not far from the Porta Viminalis. The cohorts were stationed there, who did duty in turn at the imperial residence. The emperor himself was regarded as praetor, the immediate commanding-officer being called praefectus praetorio, and in Greek . Thus we read, that when Paul was brought to Rome, , Act 28:16. Such an office was at this time held by Burrus, and the apostle was probably committed to his charge. A portion of this military mansion was close upon the palace, or domus palatina–of which it is said, that in it , Dio Cassius, 53:16. Suetonius, Octav. 49. Drusus, we are told by the last author, when imprisoned in the praetorium, was located in ima parte palatii. A large camp of the praetorian guards was also established outside the walls-(castra praetorianorum, Tacitus, Hist. 1.31); but those on immediate duty had their residence near the royal dwelling. It may be added, that Josephus carefully distinguishes between the palace and the praetorium, between the and that in which Agrippa was imprisoned under a military guard. Thus, the soldiers who relieved one another in keeping the apostle, came to learn that he was no vulgar malefactor, but that he had been the expounder of a new faith-a man of pure and irreproachable life-no fanatic or leveller, or selfish demagogue. And there is no doubt that many of them must have been impressed with his serene heroism, and the visible peace of his untroubled conscience, as he waited for a trial which might send him to the block. And the cause of his imprisonment was not only known in the whole praetorium, but beyond it-
-and to all the rest; not simply to others of the body-guards, more than those which came into contact with him, or to those of the cohort beyond the city, as Wieseler and Conybeare narrow the allusion, but to persons beyond the praetorium. Nor does the language refer to places, as some of the Greek fathers suppose, when they supply . Neither can have any conventional signification, such as that which van Hengel assigns it-hominibus exteris quibuscunque. The texts referred to by him cannot for a moment sustain his strange exegesis. The expression is a popular and broad one, meaning that his bonds were made known in Christ, far beyond the imperial barracks; that in a large circle in the city itself, the reason of his incarceration was fully comprehended and appreciated. How, indeed, could it be otherwise? Immediately on his arrival, he assembled the chiefs of the Jews, and addressed them in a style which led to no little disputation among themselves; and we are told, also, that for the space of two years, the apostle received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him, Act 28:30-31. The second result of his imprisonment follows.
Fuente: Commentary on the Greek Text of Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Phillipians
Php 1:13. Bonds refers to the chain by which Paul was made a prisoner, and it was manifest literally since he had an actual metalic chain fastened to his body. In Christ is said because the apostle’s persecution was on account of his service to Him. Palace is from PRAITORION, a military term, and is defined by Thayer at this place, “the camp of praetorian soldiers.” Paul was under guard of the soldiers, even though permitted to occupy a house which he hired for himself (Act 28:30-31). Under these circumstances he would come in contact with a great many persons of various ranks, and to those who came within the sound of his voice he preached the Gospel, the subject because of which he was wearing the chain.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 13
My bonds in Christ are manifest; that is, it is known that my imprisonment is on account of my testimony in behalf of the gospel.–The palace; the pretorium; the quarters, perhaps, of the officer mentioned in Acts 28:16, as the captain of the guard.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
1:13 So that my bonds {h} in Christ are manifest in all the {i} palace, and in all other [places];
(h) For Christ’s sake.
(i) In the emperor’s court.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The point of this verse is that because of Paul’s imprisonment in Rome many people had heard the gospel who would not otherwise have heard it. The phrase, "my imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ," (NASB) or, "I am in chains for Christ," (NIV) in the Greek text stresses an important fact. Paul’s relationship to Christ, not just his service for Christ, was what had become known. People had become aware of Paul’s personal relationship with the Savior because he had shared his testimony with them.
Two groups had received the apostle’s witness, the praetorian guard and many other people. The praetorian guard probably refers to the soldiers who were members of the regiment assigned to guard many of the high-ranking officials in the Roman government, though the praetorian guard was also a place. [Note: See J. B. Lightfoot, St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, pp. 99-104.] These soldiers were also responsible to guard prisoners who had appealed to Caesar, such as Paul. It was an honor to be one of these guards. They would have been with Paul in his hired house where he was under house arrest 24 hours a day (cf. Act 28:30-31). Paul had the opportunity to witness to many of these elite soldiers, and he viewed this as a great blessing.
"There were originally ten thousand of these picked soldiers, concentrated in Rome by Tiberius. They had double pay and special privileges and became so powerful that emperors had to court their favour. Paul had contact with one after another of these soldiers." [Note: Robertson, 4:438.]
The "everyone else" group included unsaved members of the Jewish community (Act 28:17-29), some Gentiles (e.g., Phm 1:10), and Paul’s fellow Christians. Paul evidently was communicating with many people even though he was a prisoner.