The Apostle's Guard

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Philippians 1:12-14 ESV

“Decius, come here.” The tired yet booming voice of a senior guard calls out to a young soldier.

“Yes sir, you wanted to see me?”

“Congratulations Decius, you’ve been promoted.”

“Really, Sir? Wow, thank you. I… I won’t let you down.”

“I’m sure you won’t. Take this bucket of water to cell 13. You’ll be posted there for the next week or so until we find out where we will send this prisoner, Paul.”

“Yessir. I’ll go right away. One thing, sir… Cell 13, that’s the bottom cell. That doesn’t seem like a promotion.”

The senior guard laughed and slapped Decius on the back so hard he nearly spilt the bucket of water. “Decius, don’t be so literal.”

Decius walked down the spiraling staircase leading to the bottom cell. With every step, the air grew more heavy and moist; as if all the stench from the cells above was settled on cell 13.

“Good afternoon. Or morning. Or is it night time?” A voice spoke from the darkness. All Decius could see was the illumination of a silhouette crouched around the warmth of a candle.

“It’s morning.” Decius replied.

“Well then, that’s good news!” The silhouette turned revealing the battered face of the Christian Apostle and accused rabble-rouser, Paul.

“Why is that good news?” inquired Decius.

“Well that means that the Lord’s mercies are new. Perhaps my new mercy this morning is you. Tell me young man, what is your name and where are you from?”

Decius and Paul began a conversation. Alone in this damnable cell, the love of Christ manifested even the darkest depths of the prison in the simple smile of a prisoner.

As the days passed, Paul and Decius grew to know one another. Morning after morning in that dark, damp, cell, Decius would find Paul singing old hymns to his God.

“You confuse me, Paul. You are here in this prison; and yet, you always sing? Your God has left you in this pit, but you still worship him?”

“Decius” Paul said with a smile and in a soft pastoral tone. “This time of suffering will come to an end, as will all suffering. And my God, will welcome me into eternal paradise when that time comes. I have done nothing to deserve his invitation, yet, he gives it to me freely out of love. How could I not sing?”

Decius stood stunned. How could a man so broken and ashamed be so joyful? His body may be chained to the prison wall, but his soul is free.

In just a few days, Paul would be freed from the pit and offered imprisonment in the home of his friend Luke. Luke had continued practicing medicine in Rome and had purchased for himself and the use of the saints, a home close to the center of the city. Paul was escorted to the home and made his bed in a windowless guest room. There he would spend the following two years. Ever the optimist, Paul saw this imprisonment as an opportunity to write to the churches he had visited prior to his arrest. He would spend the next two years writing letters and studying the scriptures. During his time under house arrest, he would not be alone. Luke would spend many hours with Paul. Aquila and Priscilla came back to Rome a number of times to sit with Paul and minister in the church. Andronicus and Junia would bring meals to Paul and spend evenings together. Ampliatus would stop in every now and then with some sort of trinket purchased in the market nearby. Paul was always amused at how much he appreciated these little toys; though he never found them amusing himself. Urbanus and Stachys made regular trips to see Paul over this two year period of time. They would make sure they shared with him the testimonies from their ministry in the surrounding areas. Persis would arrive in the spring and summer every month with fresh flowers to bring some color into Paul's room. She would always be whistling a merry tune. Paul would shout from his chair, “I wonder who that could be?’ each time he heard the whistling from down the hall. Rufus and his mother would come and sit with Paul. Rufus’ mother would always bring up Paul’s singleness. “I don’t know why you wouldn’t just marry Octavia. She loves the Lord and is very involved in the ministry. She would make a wonderful wife and mother.” Paul would dismiss her attempts to play matchmaker time after time. Nevertheless, he enjoyed knowing someone cared about him enough to nag him about his personal life. The home of Luke the Apostle was never quiet. There was always someone coming in and out. And one young guard was there to witness it all.

Decius was always a bit perplexed at these comings and goings of the Christians. He was there to keep an eye on Paul, but he was unintentionally exposed to the workings of the quickly growing Christian Church.

“I’ve been watching and listening to you and your friends for a while now, Paul. I have to say, I’m more than curious. If your God could change the lives of your visitors, if he could do all the things they claim he does out there in the streets and all over the empire… I wonder if he could do something in me.”

Paul looked up from his chair at Decius with a soft smile and a shimmer in his eye and whispered as though he were sharing a secret. “Decius, it is not a coincidence that you are here with me. You were assigned by the Prefect to watch over me during my sentence. Yet, it was not only his hand that moved you; it was the hand of Christ, the Messiah. He is the reason you have been placed here with me. That in this very moment, you may believe and be saved.”

Decius began to cry. Something inside of his armored heart began to break. He knew in an instant what Paul was saying was true. There, in Luke’s home, he accepted the grace of the Gospel.

In the following weeks, Decius would sit with Paul and ask questions. They read scripture together. They sang songs. They prayed with, and for one another. Until the day Decius received an order of reassignment.

“Paul, I have troubling news. I have been reassigned. I will be leading a regiment of the praetorian guard to Asia. There we will be assisting in the reconstruction and redesign of a military garrison that was lost to an earthquake.

“Congratulations. That’s not bad news at all.” Paul was unshaken by the update.

“But I will have to leave you. I don’t know who will be taking my place, but I will do my best to ensure he treats you with care and dignity. Paul, they could be very dangerous. Your friends may not be welcome with another guard. They may even be in danger.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve been through much more than the cell where you found me. Have I told you of the time I was shipwrecked? Twice, actually.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned that one a few times.” Decius smirked as he remembered all the stories of Paul’s journeys.

“Whoever is assigned to be my watchman will be assigned by the Lord, Decius. You know that. And I will share with him the same message I shared with you. Likewise, go and share the Gospel in Asia. Share the Gospel with those under your command and in your garrison.”

“I will. I trust the Lord is moving me for a purpose, even though I don’t fully understand. It seems he works all things together for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purposes.”

Paul laughed, “Yes, I suppose that's exactly what he does. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Goodbye dear friend. Until we meet again in glory. Maranatha.”

“Maranatha.” Decius replied.

The following morning a member of the guard knocked on the door of Luke’s home.

“I’ve come to assume responsibility for the prisoner.”

Luke welcomed in the battle hardened, square-chinned guard. “He’s downstairs. Let me show you to his quarters.”

The soldier stepped into the home, armor clinging. His face seemed unbreakable, distant, and petulant.

“What is that I hear? Singing?” He grumbled.

“Ah yes, he sings every morning.”

“Why?”

Luke opened the door to Paul’s room.

“I think you may want to ask him that question…”