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A FETTERED AMBASSADOR 407
lost, and when fresh documents came Nero's capricious idleness
put off the trial from month to month. So Paul continued
in prison, and became a missionary to the Praetorium,
and to many Romans. His imprisonment was not lacking in
elements of interest.
of the .Roman Chris-
Linus and many tians sought his lodging, and showed him every mark of affection.
Luke was constantly with him, consulted with him
about every detail of his Gospel, and took charge of his health.
He was in frequent correspondence with his friends and with
the converts of the churches which he had founded. Timotheus,
who was the child of his heart, treated him with all
the tenderness of a son. Tychicus and Epaphras came from
Asia, and brought him news of the Church of Ephesus and of
the valleys of the Lycus. Mark, the cousin of his first companion,
Barnabas, came to cheer him with news of Peter and of
Jerusalem, and of his travels in many lauds. Epaphroditus
ministered to his necessities by bringing him a gift from his
beloved and generous Philippians. The soldiers heard the
letters which he dictated to his converts, and heard what
Luke read to him of his Gospel. Many of them were deeply
influenced by the new world of thought and holiness which
was thus revealed to them. Some were converted and baptised,
and found that the lodging of the Jewish prisoner was
to them the vestibule of the house of God.
And when the soldier on guard was a brother, the intercourse
which the prisoner could hold with any who came
to visit him was unconstrained. Most of all was this the
case when the Praetorian Celsus was chained to him, and the
veteran soldier was so happy in the charge that he was ready
to relieve any Praetorian by taking his turn in addition to his
own. It was the armour of Celsus, as it lay beside him on the
floor, dinted with the blows of many a battle, which suggested
to Paul his beautiful description of the Christian panoply.
One day there came to the Apostle a lady deeply veiled attended
by a Christian freedwoman. She was so agitated that,
when she had sunk on one of the humble seats, she could
scarcely find words in which to pour forth her anguish.
When she grew a little calmer, she lifted her veil, and Celsus
rose and made her a respectful salutation, for he recognised
the mourning robes and sad but beautiful face of the wife
of Aulus Plautius.