Among the disciples who ministered to Paul at Rome was Onesimus, a fugitive slave from the city of Colosse. He belonged to a Christian named Philemon, a member of the Colossian church. But he had robbed his master and fled to Rome. Here this pagan slave, profligate and unprincipled, was reached by the truths of the gospel. He had seen and heard Paul at Ephesus, and now, in the providence of God, he met him again in Rome. In the kindness of his heart, the apostle 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 attentively to the words of life which he had once despised, and was converted to the faith of Christ. He now confessed his sin against his master, and gratefully accepted the counsel of the apostle. {LP 284.2}

Blandt de disciple som tjente Paulus i Rom var Onesiums, en flygtet slave fra Kolosæas by. Han tilhørte en kristen ved navn Filemon, et medlem af menigheden i Kolosæ. Men han berøvede sin mester og flygtede til Rom. Her blev denne hedenske slave, ryggesløse og uden principper, nået af evangeliets sandhed. Han havde set og hørt Paulus i Efesus, og nu mødte han ham igen i Rom, under Guds forsyn. Med den venlighed han har i sit hjerte, forsøgte apostlen at lette ham for den stakkels flygtede slaves armod og lidelse, og så prøvede at sprede sandhedens lys i hans formørkede sind. Onesimus lyttede opmærksomt til livets ord, som han tidligere havde foragtet, og var omvendt til troen på Kristus. Han bekendte nu sin synd imod sin mester, og tog taknemmeligt imod apostlens råd.