17.Why was Paul rejoicing greatly in the Lord Jesus?

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Because the church in Philippi had sent Epaphroditus to Paul with an offering of money for his support.

Paul’s statements in verses 10 and 11 reveal that it was not the money that was so pleasing to Paul, it was the fact that the believers in Philippi actually cared for him. Paul assures them that he understood they always were concerned for his welfare but sometimes did not have the opportunity to demonstrate their love.

The coming of Epaphroditus must have meant a lot to Paul. Paul had much time to sit and think while he was awaiting his trial. A thoughtful reading of the Book of Acts gives us some idea of the amount of opposition Paul met as he attempted to explain that Jesus of Nazareth is Christ, and that He died for our sins and rose again from the dead.

The Apostle Paul was a bold, determined individual. He preached Christ with the same zeal with which he had previously attempted to destroy the churches. He spent many hours arguing with the Jews.

The Jews on several occasions sought to kill Paul. Jewish teachers followed him around and tried to convince the Gentile Christians to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses.

It appears that Paul was rejected more times than he was accepted. We can imagine, then, that the act of sincere love that was shown toward him as he waited patiently in the Praetorian barracks, not knowing what the outcome of his trial would be, was comforting to him, a blessing to him. It proved to him that his labour was not in vain in the Lord.