20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
for which
The apostle Paul was an ambassador of the gospel in chains as a prisoner of Rome. He was in prison for the sake of the gospel.
I am an ambassador in chains;
An ambassador represents the leader of a national entity as an official envoy. He speaks for and personally represents the presence of a king, president, or premier. These are commissioned people, people with authority. Ministers are ambassadors commissioned by the Lord to represent Him on earth in time.
“Chains” indicates that Paul was in jail by himself with a Roman soldier (Ac 28:16). His imprisonment did not daunt him from presenting the gospel to the Roman government.
that in it I may speak boldly,
Paul wanted to speak the gospel with boldness and freedom.
as I ought to speak.
A personal representative of the sovereign Son of God ought to speak boldly and fearlessly about the gospel.
PRINCIPLE:
Prayer for personal representatives of Christ will produce aggressive evangelism.
APPLICATION:
Personal representatives of the Lord Jesus on earth ought to share the gospel aggressively. It takes confidence to share the gospel boldly. Fearless presentation of the gospel comes from prayer support.
God answered Paul’s request for prayer. After his imprisonment he continued for two years “boldly and without hindrance” preaching the gospel (Ac 28:30-31). The gospel spread through the praetorian guard (Php 1:2) and Caesar’s household (Php 4:22).
