"In writing to Philemon, Paul chooses to speak of himself as the captive of Jesus Christ. Yet he went whither he would, and was free to receive those who came to him. It is interesting to remember amid these solemn vaults, the different events of St. Paul's apostolate, during the two years that he lived here. It was here that he converted Onesimus, that he received the presents of the Philippians, brought by Epaphroditus; it was hence that he wrote to Philemon, to Titus, to the inhabitants of Philippi and of Colosse; it was here that he preached devotion to the cross with that glowing eagerness, with that startling eloquence, which gained fresh power from contest and which inspiration rendered sublime. "Peter addressed himself to the Circumcised; Paul to the Gentiles,[13]--to their silence that he might confound it, to their reason that he might humble it. Had he not already converted the proconsul Sergius Paulus and Dionysius the Areopagite? At Rome his word is equally powerful, and among the courtiers of Nero, perhaps even amongst his relations, are those who yield to the power of God, who reveals himself in each of the teachings of his servant.[14] Around the Apostle his eager disciples group themselves--Onesiphorus of Ephesus, who was not ashamed of his chain;[15] Epaphras of Colosse, who was captive with him, _concaptivus meus_;[16] Timothy, who was one with his master in a holy union of every thought, and who was attached to him like a son, _sicut patri filius_;[17] Hermas, Aristarchus, Marcus, Demas--and Luke the physician, the faithful companion of the Apostle, his well-beloved disciple--'Lucas medicus carissimus.'"--_From Gournerie, Rome Chrétienne._ "I honour Rome for this reason; for though I could celebrate her praises on many other accounts--for her greatness, for her beauty, for her power, for her wealth, and for her warlike exploits,--yet, passing over all these things, I glorify her on this account, that Paul in his lifetime wrote to the Romans, and loved them, and was present with and conversed with them, and ended his life amongst them. Wherefore the city is on this account renowned more than on all others--on this account I admire her, not on account of her gold, her columns, or her other splendid decorations."--_St. John Chrysostom, Homily on the Ep. to the Romans._ "The Roman Jews expressed a wish to hear from St. Paul himself a statement of his religious sentiments, adding that the Christian sect was everywhere spoken against.... A day was fixed for the meeting at his private lodging.