As the warmhearted disciples eagerly flock around their father in the gospel, the whole company is brought to a 449 standstill. The soldiers are impatient of delay, yet they have not the heart to interrupt this happy meeting; for they, too, have learned to respect and esteem their prisoner. In that worn, pain-stricken face, the disciples see reflected the image of Christ. They assure Paul that they have not forgotten him nor ceased to love him; that they are indebted to him for the joyful hope which animates their lives and gives them peace toward God. In the ardor of their love they would bear him upon their shoulders the whole way to the city, could they but have the privilege.

Mens de varmhjertede disciple ivrigt flokkes om deres fader i troen, går hele flokken i stå. Soldaterne er utålmodige over forsinkelsen, men nænner ikke at afbryde dette glade møde, for de har selv lært at ære og agte deres fange. I dette hærgede ansigt, som er præget af lidelser, ser disciplene en genspejling af Kristi billede. De forsikrer Paulus, at de ikke har glemt ham eller er ophørt med at elske ham og at de skylder ham det glade håb, som giver deres liv værdi og som giver dem fred med Gud. I deres kærligheds iver ville de helst bære ham på deres skuldre hele vejen til byen, hvis de blot kunne få lov til det.