His trial it would seem, then, was for a considerable time postponed. His accusers, whose arrival was not even expected by the Roman Jews (Acts xxviii. 21), do not appear to have reached Rome before the summer or autumn of the year[1151] A.D. 61, and the necessity of obtaining evidence as to the charges against him from Judæa, Syria, Cilicia, Pisidia, and Macedonia, added to the fact that according to the Roman law the witnesses both of the prosecutors and the accused must be examined on each of the charges separately[1152], would necessitate an adjournment of the case from time to time to suit the convenience of the Emperor. During, however, this long period of delay the Apostle was not obliged to remain inactive. Allowed to live in a house by himself, and to receive any who wished to visit him, he had many opportunities of preaching the word, and the glad tidings of the Kingdom (Acts xxviii. 31). Nor were his efforts fruitless. To use his own language, he _begat_ many children even _in his bonds_ (Philem. 10), and through the numerous and deeply attached friends, by whom he was surrounded, he was enabled to communicate with many of the Churches which he had planted. Thus there were with him at this time Luke, the beloved physician, and his old companion (Col. iv. 14; Philem. 24); Timothy his favourite disciple (Philem. 1; Col. i. 1; Phil. i. 1). Tychicus[1153] (Col. iv. 7; Eph. vi. 21); John Mark, whom he had once[1154] been obliged to reject as having abandoned the ministry, but who, he now allowed, was _profitable to him_ (comp. Col. iv. 10, 2 Tim. iv. 11); Demas, now, indeed, _a faithful fellow-labourer_ (Philem. 24); Col. iv. 14), though soon, alas, to be drawn away by love of _this present world_ (2 Tim. iv. 10); Aristarchus of Macedonia (Col. iv. 10); and Epaphras[1155] of Colossæ (Col. i. 7).