Paul’s imprisonment for the sake of Christ has also become known to everyone else (tois loipois pasin). This was probably a large number of people. Greijdanus identifies these people as the court’s staff, the judges, and those who were in one way or another connected to the court.1 However, the impression we gain is one of Paul drawing a clear distinction between these others, i.e. everyone else,
and the first group. Vincent identifies these others with the whole city (Rome, according to him),2 while Matter also envisions city dwellers, but then (in relation to a dispatch from Ephesus) those who lived in Corinth.3 It is not impossible that Paul is referring to ordinary citizens here, but then those of Caesarea.4
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.