Philippians 1:13
in Philippians 1As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole prætorian guard, and to all the rest;
KJV
So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
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This verse in Philippians 1
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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 Paul’s imprisonment was, that he was permitted to occupy a house by himself, though chained to a soldier who was his guard; Act 28:
This site's exposition
served to advance the gospel
on Philippians 1:12-14
Paul's arrest and imprisonment have served to advance the gospel, prokope, a word for an advance cut through obstacles. The palace guard, praetorion, is the emperor's own guard, and the unit holding Paul has learned that I am in chains for Christ.
This site's exposition
throughout the whole palace guard
The palace guard were the emperor's own troops. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown take them as the praetorian guard at Rome, with Paul in strict custody among them. Acts 28:16 and 20 describe him guarded and chained.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
His imprisonment for Christ's sake is becoming known. This is his distinctive honor. Now others who love him may rejoice with him.
Who are "all the rest"? The whole of Jewry, in addition to all the churches of the Gentiles. The former still has precedence, since to them the promise was first made.
"Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the Gospel, so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest." It was likely they would grieve when they heard he was in bonds, and imagine that the preaching was at a stand. What then? He straightway destroys this suspicion. And this also shows his affection, that he declares the things which had happened to him, because they were anxious. What say you? you are in bonds! you are hindered! how then does the Gospel advance? He answers, "so that my bonds in Christ became manifest in all the praetorium." This thing not only did not silence the rest, nor affright them, but contrariwise rather encouraged them. If then they who were near the dangers were not only nothing hurt, but even received greater confidence, much more should you. Had he when in bonds taken it hardly, and held his peace, it were probable that they would be affected in like sort. But as he spoke more boldly when in bonds, he gave them more confidence than if he had not been bound. And how have his bonds "turned to the progress of the Gospel"? So God in His dispensation ordered, he means, that my bonds were not hid, my bonds which were "in" Christ, which were "for" Christ. "In the whole praetorium." For up to that time they so called the palace. And in the whole city, says he.
Fit objects for admiration are the Stoics, who say that the soul is not affected by the body, either to vice by disease, or to virtue by health; but both these things, they say, are indifferent.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he shows his own progress; secondly, that of others (1:14). In regard to himself, of course, it was obvious that he suffered for Christ with constancy, so that it has become known that my imprisonment is for Christ. This redounds to Christ's glory: "But …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
That is, although I am bound, I speak with even greater boldness and do not remain silent, but my preaching has reached even the praetorium itself, that is, the royal palace itself, and has spread throughout the entire city. And this was accomplished "in Christ," …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
): " My bonds in Christ, or for Christ, are manifest in all the palace and in all other places. The emperor, the courtiers, the magistrates, are convinced that I do not suffer as an evil-doer, but as an honest man, with a good conscience.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
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.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The emperor was "Prætor," or Commander-in-Chief; naturally then the barrack of his bodyguard was called the Prætorium. Paul seems now not to have been at large in his own hired house, though chained to a soldier, as in Ac 28:16, 20, 30, 31, but in strict custody in the Prætorium; a change which probably took place on Tigellinus becoming Prætorian Prefect.
My bonds - are manifest in all the palace - In consequence of the public defense 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, πραιτωριον, 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.
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὥστε | hoste | so as for | G5620 → | 83 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεσμούς | desmous | chains | G1199 → | 17 times |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| φανεροὺς | phanerous | clearly known | G5318 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Χριστῷ | christo | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| γενέσθαι | genesthai | to have become | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὅλῳ | holo | all | G3650 → | |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πραιτωρίῳ | praitorio | palace guard | G4232 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λοιποῖς | loipois | rest | G3062 → | |
| πάσιν | pasin | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
ὥστεso as for
hosteG5620 →83 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
δεσμούςchains
desmousG1199 →17 times
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
φανεροὺςclearly known
phanerousG5318 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ΧριστῷChrist
christoG5547 →523 times
γενέσθαιto have become
genesthaiG1096 →667 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ὅλῳall
holoG3650 →
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πραιτωρίῳpalace guard
praitorioG4232 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
λοιποῖςrest
loipoisG3062 →
πάσινall
pasinG3956 →1235 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
Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:9
for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore 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.
- Colossians 4:4
Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.
- 2 Timothy 2:9
Through
2 Timothy 2:9for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 28:31
Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Timothy 1:8
Through
Philippians 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:3
I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.
- Philippians 1:5
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
- 2 Corinthians 7:3
Through
Ephesians 3:1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:20
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Philippians
This page draws on 11 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 PHILIPPIANS 1.17.1; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 4; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philippians 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philippians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians.