God’s Word for You

Philippians 1:13 in chains because of Christ

by Pastor Timothy Smith on Tuesday, February 17, 2026

13 So then it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to all the rest, that I am in chains because of Christ.

It was obvious to everyone that Paul was in chains. This is the simplest part of the verse to understand. Not one guard, not one visitor, not one prisoner, and certainly Paul himself ever questioned whether or not he was in chains and a prisoner.

But then, Paul preached the Gospel. He and his companions sang hymns, prayed, remembered the words of Jesus, and quoted from the Scriptures, and talked about what it all means. This was their proclamation. More than this, Paul surely discoursed on the Scriptures—he had little devotions before they ate their meager prison food, and he preached, and he answered questions in what we would consider to be a Bible Study. The law was proclaimed and the gospel was applied.

Paul’s chains are described just a couple of times. He told the Ephesians that he was “an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:20), and Luke tells that during this imprisonment he was in “his own rented house” under guard (Acts 28:30), and that while there he was bound with a chain (Acts 28:20). Pastor Wenzel says that “it is commonly held that he was handcuffed to the guard” (p. 52), but we also speculate that this is not necessarily the case, but that Paul was chained by a longer chain, perhaps from the ankle to a guard who had to be in the same room.

Since the guards would be changed regularly, and on account of the “novelty” of a prisoner who was so obviously innocent of the charges, his case became well-known among the guards. It was inevitable that this got around to all of the prisoners as well, since the only thing that prisoners crave more than water and food is news of any kind. This news about Paul would surely have spread out into the community as well, as the guards’ wives and friends and acquaintances heard about this strange prisoner who was accused only of his religion. No wonder that Paul’s preaching made inroads into Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22). The guards that Paul describes here are known collectively as the Praetorian Guard (ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ), known especially as escorts or bodyguards for high-ranking officials, and they were the only Roman soldiers allowed to bear arms within the city of Rome.

This also tells us something about how Paul used his time in prison. How would word about him get around so much? It must have been the way he spoke, his attitude, the very thoughts behind what he said, that made everyone who came into contact with him take notice. Here was a man who was in prison in Rome, and who possibly or even probably was going to lose his life on account of his religion. But rather than tell people how he was doing when they asked, as we would do or expect, he told people what he was anxious about and what he was excited about. It was always the success of the gospel with Paul. How is the faith of this person, of that person, of this church, or of that group of Christians? How is the gospel doing around the world? Back in Asia? Here in Europe? Down in Africa? This is Paul’s theme throughout all of his prison epistles, and it was obviously what was on his mind and in his heart throughout his imprisonment.

Paul’s chains were “because of Christ,” which means on account of his faith in Christ (Acts 24:24), his service for Christ (Romans 15:17), his love of Christ (Romans 8:35), and his ministry to proclaim the Gospel of Christ (Romans 16:25). When he was called to visit the churches of Cyprus (Acts 13:2), he did it gladly. When he was called to take the gospel into Macedonia, he did it without hesitating (Acts 16:9-10). The Holy Spirit had warned him through a prophet that he would be bound hand and foot and be handed over to the Gentiles. Paul had answered: “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).

Serving Christ gives the Christian joy. This will be Paul’s theme throughout this letter. When serving the heavenly Father meant death for the Son of God, what did the Son of God do? He gave his life over to death. This will be Paul’s point in chapter 2. For now, he shows the many ways that his own service can be a joyful service even when it does not seem to be what anyone in their right mind would he happy about. But if it serves God’s plan, and I am to be the one that God uses for his plan, what else should I do but leap to my feet and say, “Here I am, send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). Your task might not be facing death today. It might be preparing a school lesson, or doing the dishes, or changing a diaper and soothing a fussy baby who doesn’t know what’s the matter. Or maybe you have a girlfriend who’s angry about something you don’t understand, but you can be there and be on her side. Whatever the Lord has given you to do just now, do it to serve him and to give him glory. “Put your shoulder to the bonds that faith brings, and carry them; do not fret under those bonds.” Instead, make such chains “a string of spiritual pearls” that adorn your life and give it a special beauty, and pray that you should be “counted worthy to reach the end.” This is how God works in the world. How wonderful it is to be his servant, to know that he has a special place ready for us, and that he has some task for you to do for him today.

In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith

 

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