The apostle Paul was now called upon to endure the trying experiences that would fall to his lot as a prisoner in chains during the long and tedious voyage to Italy. One 440 circumstance greatly lightened the hardship of his lot--he was permitted the companionship of Luke and Aristarchus. In his letter to the Colossians he afterward referred to the latter as his "fellow prisoner" (Colossians 4:10); but it was from choice that Aristarchus shared Paul's bondage, that he might minister to him in his afflictions.

Nu tilfaldt det apostlen Paulus at måtte tåle den prøvende oplevelse, der ville falde i hans lod som en lænket fange under den lange og trættende rejse til Italien. Der var ét, som i høj grad virkede formildende midt i hans hårde skæbne han fik tilladelse til at blive ledsaget af Lukas og Aristarkus. I brevet til kolossenserne omtalte han senere den sidstnævnte som sin "medfange"; men det var af egen fri vilje, at Aristarkus delte Paulus fangenskab, for at han kunne sørge for ham under de vanskelige forhold.