To visit Paul now was not, as during his first imprisonment, to visit a man against whom no charge had been sustained, and who had won favorable opinions from princes and rulers. It was to visit one who was the object of universal hatred, who was accused of instigating the basest and most terrible crime against the city and the nation. Whoever ventured to show him the slightest attention, thereby made himself the object of suspicion, and endangered his own life. Rome was now filled with spies, who stood ready to bring an accusation against any one on the slightest occasion. None but a Christian would visit a Christian; for no other would incur the odium of a faith which even intelligent men regarded as not merely contemptible, but treasonable. {LP 307.2}

At besøge Paulus nu, var ikke, som under hans første fængsling, at besøge en mand som der ikke var anklager imod, og som vandt fyrster og herskeres gode anskuelser. Det var at besøge en som var genstand for universel hand, som var anklaget for ansporre til den mest nedrige og forfærdelige forbrydelse mod byen og folket. Den som vovede at vist ham den mindste opmærksomhed, blev derved selv gjort til genstand for mistanker, og bragte sit eget liv i fare. Nu var Rom fyldt med spioner, som stod parat til at føre anklage imod enhver, ved mindste lejlighed. Ingen andre end en kristen ville besøge en kristen; for ingen andre ville pådrage sig en tros modvilje, som endog intelligente mænd betragtede som ikke blot usle, men som foræderiske.