The aged prisoner, chained to his soldier guard, had in his appearance nothing that would lead the world to pay him homage. Yet in this man, apparently without friends or wealth or position, and held a prisoner for his faith in the Son of God, all heaven was interested. Angels were his attendants. Had the glory of one of those shining messengers 435 flashed forth, the pomp and pride of royalty would have paled; king and courtiers would have been stricken to the earth, as were the Roman guards at the sepulcher of Christ.

Den aldrende fange, som var lænket til sin fangevogter, havde intet i sit ydre, der kunne få verden til at vise ham ærbødighed. Dog havde denne mand, der tilsyneladende manglede venner, rigdom og magt og som var fange på grund af sin tro på Guds Søn, betydning for hele Himmelen. Engle stod ham bi. Hvis et af disse lysende sendebuds stråleglans havde været synlig, ville den kongelige pomp og pragt være blegnet; konger og hofmænd ville være faldet til jorden ligesom det romerske vagthold ved Kristi grav.