Ephesians 6:20
in Ephesians 6for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
KJV
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
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This verse in Ephesians 6
Commentary
14 notes on this verseThis prayer God hears gladly. The apostle is being despised. God's own mission is under challenge. So God will certainly not withhold his gifts from one who is upholding God's own cause. Custom and law forbid the infliction of harm on human ambassadors. So would …
This site's exposition
Pray in the Spirit at all times
on Ephesians 6:18-20
Prayer follows the armor unnumbered. Teachers divide over whether it is a seventh piece or the air in which all six are worn.
This site's exposition
an ambassador in chains
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the Greek word for chains is singular. Chrysostom lists that chain among the things Paul glories in, and explains speaking fearlessly as answering with confidence, courage and prudence. Clarke sees the imprisonment as a chance to defend the honor of his Master.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Boldly means "so that I may not fail to accomplish it fully and that my chains may not so work on my mind as to prevent my accomplishing it, the task of expounding the mystery, as I ought."
Nothing can be more blessed than that soul. In what does he glory? In bonds, in afflictions, in chains, in scars; "I bear branded on my body," saith he, "the marks of Jesus," as though they were some great trophy. And again, "For because of the hope of Israel," saith he, "I am bound with this chain." And again, "For which I am an ambassador in chains." What is this? Art thou not ashamed, art thou not afraid going about the world as a prisoner? Dost thou not fear lest any one should charge thy God with weakness? lest any one should on this account refuse to come near thee and to join the fold? No, saith he, not such are my bonds. They can shine brightly even in kings' palaces. "So that my bonds," saith he, "became manifest in Christ, throughout the whole praetorian guard: and most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear." Behold ye a force in bonds stronger than the raising of the dead. They beheld me bound, and they are the more courageous. For where bonds are, there of necessity is something great also. Where affliction is, there verily is salvation also, there verily is solace, there verily are great achievements. For when the devil kicks, then is he, doubtless, hit. When he binds God's servants, then most of all does the word gain ground.
"For which I am an ambassador in chains, that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak"; that is, that I may answer with confidence, with courage, with great prudence.
The Medieval Church2 voices
And for what, Paul? He answers, that I may with confidence make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in a chain. This is his second petition. For it is not only necessary for a preacher that the word or …
That is, so that I might, as is fitting, defend myself as a preacher of the faith, with boldness and courage and great prudence. But to whom are you fulfilling your embassy? To people, in order to reconcile them with God; but they have bound …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He was persecuted and imprisoned for preaching the gospel; though, notwithstanding, he continued in the embassy committed to him by Christ, and persisted in preaching it. It is no new thing for Christ's ministers to be in bonds. It is a hard thing for them to speak boldly when that is their case.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
For which I am an ambassador in bonds,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For--Greek, as in Eph 6:19, "On behalf of which." an ambassador in bonds--a paradox. Ambassadors were held inviolable by the law of nations, and could not, without outrage to every sacred right, be put in chains. Yet Christ's "ambassador is in a chain!" The Greek is singular.
An ambassador in bonds - An ambassador being the representative of his king, his person was in all civilized countries held sacred. Contrary to the rights of nations, this ambassador of the King of heaven was put in chains! He had however the opportunity of defending himself, and of vindicating the honor of his Master. See above. As I ought to speak - As becomes the dignity and the importance of the subject.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For which I am an ambassador in bonds - In chains (see the margin); or in confinement. There is something especially touching in this. He was “an ambassador” - sent to proclaim peace to a lost world. But he was now in chains. An ambassador is a sacred character. No greater affront can be given to a nation than to put its ambassadors to death, or even to throw them into prison. But Paul says here that the unusual spectacle was witnessed of an ambassador seized, bound, confined, imprisoned; an ambassador who ought to have the privileges conceded to all such people, and to be permitted to go everywhere publishing the terms of mercy and salvation. See the word “ambassador” explained in the notes on 2Co 5:20. That therein - Margin, or “thereof.” Greek, ἐν αὐτῷ en autō - “in it;” that is, says Rosenmuller, in the gospel. It means that in speaking the gospel he might be bold. I may speak boldly - Openly, plainly, without fear; see the notes on Act 4:13; Act 9:27, note; Act 13:46, note; Act 14:3, note; Act 18:26, note; Act 19:8, note; Act 26:26, note. As I ought to speak - Whether in bonds or at large. Paul felt that the gospel ought always to be Spoken with plainness, and without the fear of man. It is remarkable that he did not ask them to pray that he might be released. “Why” he did not we do not know; but perhaps the desire of release did not lie so near his heart as the duty of speaking the gospel with boldness It may be of much more importance that we perform our duty aright when we are afflicted, or are in trouble, than that we should be released.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὑπὲρ | huper | for | G5228 → | 155 times |
| οὗ | hou | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| πρεσβεύω | presbeuo | I am an ambassador | G4243 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἁλύσει, | halusei | a chain, | G254 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| παρρησιάσωμαι | parresiasomai | I may be bold | G3955 → | |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| δεῖ | dei | it behooves | G1163 → | |
| με | me | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| λαλῆσαι.¶ | lalesai | to speak. | G2980 → | 294 times |
ὑπὲρfor
huperG5228 →155 times
οὗwhich
houG3739 →1405 times
πρεσβεύωI am an ambassador
presbeuoG4243 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἁλύσει,a chain,
haluseiG254 →
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
αὐτῷit
autoG846 →5565 times
παρρησιάσωμαιI may be bold
parresiasomaiG3955 →
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
δεῖit behooves
deiG1163 →
μεme
meG3165 →1936 times
λαλῆσαι.¶to speak.
lalesaiG2980 →294 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 John 3:16By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:9–11
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
- Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- John 13:34
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 1 John 4:9–11
Through
2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
it leads to
- Luke 14:23
So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
- Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
- Ezekiel 18:31–32
Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
- Luke 14:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Ephesians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 6.20.3; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.6.20; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 8; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 24; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.