Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 5

Paul declares his Imprisonment to Christ Jesus

Philippians 1:12-13 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; KJV

Paul shifts the focus or the content of his letter quickly to himself (not from arrogance or being prideful), but to explain to these Philippians believers and to we believers today that his being turned over to the Gentiles (the Romans) was the work of the devil through human instruments because the Holy Spirit through Paul had healed a girl bound by the enemy as documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, ‘These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.’ Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.” (Acts 16:16-24).

We see our Lord Jesus Christ at work mightily through the Apostle Paul and some of these Philippian believers might have become distraught, delusional, or discouraged seeing the faithful Apostle being bound like this and might question God as to why He would allow such a thing to happen to His servant Paul who was being so faithful. Paul knew this might be the mindset of some of them so he says, “I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:12). What? Did you Paul say that your imprisonment has served to further spread the Gospel message? The Philippian believers were surely thinking just the opposite seeing Paul now restricted from going about their city and country proclaiming Christ and this is exactly why Paul reassures them for even Paul himself was no doubt perplexed initially. However, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit quickly showed the faithful Apostle Paul that nothing or no place can bind up His Power to save all those that are appointed for salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9) because the very same night Paul was put into the prison we see the Holy Trinity act mightily as documented again for us by Dr. Luke, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” (Acts 16:25-34).

We recall that the devil was furious when the demon possessed girl was delivered by the Holy Spirit through Paul’s words, therefore, he had Paul and Silas put into prison thinking that would keep God the Father from destroying his works in Philippi, but we see that those men Paul and Silas were bound but the Word of God nor the Power of God can never be bound as the Apostle Paul said to Brother Timothy with these words, “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my Gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:8-10). Paul was not a prisoner at Philippi or at Rome, but Paul was the prisoner of Jesus Christ as he often spoke thus of himself as he did here, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles” (Ephesians 3:1) and also here, “Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you --- being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Philemon 1:8-9). Paul wanted them to understand that he was no man’s prisoner, but he was the willing prisoner of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and His Gospel of Grace.

The Gospel message progressed through Paul no matter where our Lord Jesus Christ led him or allowed him to be, even during his earthly imprisonment as he declares with these words, “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;” (Philippians 1:13). The English word Paul uses here manifest is translated by the Greek word phaneros which means to lighten or shine upon something or to show, shining, that is, make apparent (literally or figuratively); to make appear, to make known. In other words, in every instance and during every waking hour of Paul’s many imprisonments, it was at all times and always known to all that came into this man’s presence that he was not their prisoner, but the prisoner of another and that was our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul exemplified that despite his outward circumstances that he had been bound to Jesus Christ closely, conspicuously, and concretely. It was evident to all that entered into his presence that Jesus Christ and His Gospel of Grace was the current, consuming, and constant passion of his focus and attention. If Paul was not verbally declaring or preaching Christ, he was writing letters to the Churches of Christ instructing, exhorting, praying, loving, caring, and giving them knowledge and wisdom in Christ Jesus our Lord and His Gospel. Paul wanted these Philippian believers and we believers today to understand that he never considered the things he suffered in his physical body to be a hindrance, hurt, or harm to his work for Christ or to his love for Christ because our Lord Jesus Christ had shown him the future glory that awaited him immediately when his body died, “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago --- whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows --- such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man --- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows --- how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

My own Personal Note: “The Apostle Paul suffered because of his declaration of the Gospel of Christ as the only way to salvation and many people did not want to hear or believe that only ‘in Christ’ can a man or woman go to Heaven, but he never ever saw his physical sufferings as obstacles to his faithfulness because he knew though his outer-man was perishing or wasting away the real him his inner man was being renewed day by day and therefore, the things he suffered in this temporary life could not be compared to the glory that would be revealed in him, so do I think, trust, and believe in this same manner.”

“The Gospel, though it is good news and glad tidings of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Christ; yet is very disagreeable to carnal men, they are enemies to it; and do all they can to stop its progress, to shut the open door of it, and hinder its course by speaking reproachfully of it, and writing against it, and especially by persecuting its professors, and particularly its ministers; which oftentimes proves rather a furtherance than an hinderance of it; for hereby the Gospel, like gold and silver tried in the fire, shines out the more brightly, with more lustre and glory, and has the greater influence on the minds of men; persecution in one place has often been the means of carrying and spreading the Gospel in many others.” Dr. John Gill

“We see here the care the Apostle takes to prevent their being offended at his sufferings. He was now a prisoner at Rome; this might be a stumbling-block to those who had received the Gospel by his ministry. They might be tempted to think, If this doctrine were indeed of God, God would not suffer one who was so active and instrumental in preaching and propagating it to be thrown by as a despised broken vessel. They might be shy of owning this doctrine, lest they should be involved in the same trouble themselves. Now to take off the offence of the cross, he expounds this dark and hard chapter of his sufferings, and makes it very easy and intelligible, and reconcilable to the wisdom and goodness of God who employed him. He suffered by the sworn enemies of the Gospel, who laid him in prison, and aimed at taking away his life; but they should not be stumbled at this, for good was brought out of it, and it tended to the furtherance of the Gospel.” Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…