Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 13:19

"And I exhort [you] the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner." — Hebrews 13:19 (ASV)

The author underlines the importance of the readers’ doing as he asks. He “urges” (GK 4151) them “strongly” or “more abundantly” (NIV “particularly”; GK 4359). It seems as though he had at one time been a leader in the group, for he desired to “be restored” to them. What was preventing him from this restoration is not said, but evidently the obstacle was considerable. Some have suggested that he had been imprisoned for his faith. We know too little of the circumstances to rule this out, but there is nothing to indicate it. The language suggests that it was something outside the writer’s control and that it needed a good deal of prayer.