Among those who gave their hearts to God through the labors of Paul in Rome was Onesimus, a pagan slave who had wronged his master, Philemon, a Christian believer in Colosse, and had escaped to Rome. In the kindness of his heart, Paul sought to relieve the poverty and distress of the wretched fugitive and then endeavored to shed the light of truth into his darkened mind. Onesimus listened to the words of life, confessed his sins, and was converted to the faith of Christ.

Blandt dem, der gav Gud deres hjerte under Paulus virksomhed i Rom, var Onesimus. Han var en hedensk slave, der havde begået uret mod sin herre, Filemon, en kristen troende i Kolossæ og var flygtet til Rom. I sin kærlighed søgte Paulus at lindre den elendige flygtnings fattigdom og nød og prøvede så at sprede sandhedens lys i hans formørkede sjæl. Onesimus lyttede til livets ord, bekendte sine synder og blev omvendt til Kristi tro.