The whole company is brought to a stand-still, as warm-hearted disciples eagerly flock around their father in the gospel. 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 the image of Christ reflected. They assure Paul that they have not forgotten him or 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. {LP 273.3}

Hele gruppen standsede op, idet de helhjertede disciple flokkes ivrigt omkring deres fader i evangeliet. Soldaterne var urolige for at blive forsinket, alligevel havde de ikke hjerte til at afbryde dette glade møde; for de havde også lært at respektere og værdsætte deres fange. Med det trætte, og smertelige ansigt, så disciplene Kristi billede genspejlet. De forsikrede Paulus for at de ikke havde glemt ham eller stoppet med at elske ham; da de står i gæld til ham for det glædelige håb som besjæler deres liv, og giver dem fred mod Gud. Med deres varme kærlighed vil de bære ham på deres skulde hele vejen til byen, hvis de kunne få lov til det.