Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 6:19

"And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel," — Ephesians 6:19 (ASV)

And for me. Paul was then a prisoner at Rome. He especially needed the prayers of Christians:

1. That he might be sustained in his afflictions; and
2. That he might be able to manifest the spirit he ought, and to do good as he had opportunity.

From this, learn that we should pray for the prisoner, the captive, the man in chains, the slave.

In this land, there are constantly nearly ten thousand prisoners—husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, or wives, mothers, daughters. True, they are the children of crime, but they are also the children of sorrow; and in either case, or both, they need our prayers.

In this land, there are also nearly three million slaves—and they need our prayers. They are the children of misfortune and of many wrongs; they are sunk in ignorance, want, and woe; they are subjected to trials and exposed to temptations to the lowest vices. But many of them, we trust, love the Redeemer; and whether they do or not, they need a share in the prayers of Christians.

That utterance may be given unto me. Paul, though a prisoner, was permitted to preach the gospel (see Acts 28:30, 31).

That I may open my mouth boldly. He was in Rome. He was almost alone, surrounded by multitudes of the wicked, and exposed to death.

Yet he desired to speak boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and to invite sinners to repentance.

A Christian in chains and surrounded by the wicked may speak boldly and may have hope of success—for Paul was not an unsuccessful preacher even when a captive at Rome .

The mystery of the Gospel .