Charles Ellicott Commentary Philippians 1:14

"and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear." — Philippians 1:14 (ASV)

And many of the brethren in the Lord (properly, the greater number).—The words in the Lord should be connected with “trusting,” as in Philippians 2:24; Galatians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:4. As connected with the word brethren, they are meaningless; whereas St. Paul constantly uses them (especially in these Epistles), generally with a verb or verbal adjective, and always to convey some distinct idea. That the words in my bonds follow presents no difficulty. In the Lord expresses the ground of confidence; in my bonds simply the occasion and circumstances.

Waxing confident by my bonds.—There is a twofold sense here, corresponding to the twofold division of preachers made below. Those who preached Christ of contention trusted in St. Paul’s captivity as giving them scope; those who preached of good will found in it a striking example of evil overruled to good, and so gained from it fresh encouragement.