The arrest was affected by the efforts of Alexander the coppersmith, who had so unsuccessfully opposed the apostle’s work at Ephesus, and who now seized the opportunity to be revenged on one whom he could not defeat. Paul in his second Epistle to Timothy afterward referred to the machinations of this enemy of the faith: “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil. The Lord reward him according to his works.” In his first epistle he spoke in a similar manner of Hymeneus and Alexander as among those who “concerning faith have made shipwreck;” “whom,” he says, “I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” These men had departed from the faith of the gospel, and furthermore had done despite to the Spirit of grace by attributing to the power of Satan the wonderful revelations made to Paul. Having rejected the truth, they were filled with hatred against it, and sought to destroy its faithful advocate.{LP 305.1}

Arrestationen var under påvirkning af Alexander kobbersmeden, som uden held havde modsat sig apostlens arbejde i Efesus, som nu greb en anledning til at hævne ham som han som han ikke kunne bekæmpe. I sit andet brev til Timotius refererede Paulus derefter til sine trosfjenders komplot: "Aleksander Smed har voldet mig meget ondt, Herren vil gengælde ham hans gerninger." I sit første brev talte han om ligende måder fra Hymenæus og Aleksander som bland "derved har de lidt skibbrud på troen". "som," siger han,"jeg har overgivet til Satan, for at de skal tugtes til ikke at spotte Gud." Disse mænd havde forladt troen på evangeliet, og derudover havde lagt Nådens Ånd for had, ved at de forunderlige åbenbaringer Paulus fik en satanisk magt. Idet de forkastede sandheden, blev de fyldt med had imod den, og søgte at udslette dens trofaste forsvarer.