Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Timothy 1:12-15

"For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto [thee] guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes." — 2 Timothy 1:12-15 (ASV)

Nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto you keep by the Holy Ghost who dwells in us. This you know, that all those who are in Asia have turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Probably these were leaders who should have acted differently and stood by the apostle. But when he was in prison and likely to be put to death by Nero, many, who had been his former companions, abandoned him and were ashamed to acknowledge him—for which we also are ashamed of them. It is the same now: if a servant of God falls into the disfavor of the great ones of the earth, many will be ashamed of him. Paul mentions these who turned away from him, for their unfaithfulness evidently grieved him deeply; but he also mentions another case of quite a different sort, as detailed in verses 16, 17.:

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

He did not know exactly where the apostle was, in which prison he was confined; but he went from place to place until at last he found him, and then he was not ashamed to be seen ministering to the poor, chained prisoner. We read of various corporations spending a great deal of money buying chains of office for their mayors; but this chain, worn by the apostle in his prison cell at Rome, was far more valuable than any of them. What an eternal honor it will be to him, and how astonishing it is that anyone should have been ashamed of his fetters when he was so bravely suffering for Christ’s sake! There was more value in those chains on Paul’s wrists than in all the chains that were ever worn on the necks of the great ones of this world.