Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 2:27

"for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow." — Philippians 2:27 (ASV)

Paul therefore said that Epaphroditus had “indeed” been “ill” and had “almost died” as a result of his labors in the Lord’s service, perhaps from the hazards or the exertions of the journey to Rome (v.30). The illness was so severe that Paul regarded his recovery as an intervention of God. By healing him, God was displaying his mercy both on Epaphroditus and on Paul. The restoration of health to the sick man spared Paul “sorrow upon sorrow.” He felt keenly the misfortunes of his friends, and though he had been distressed over the illness of this courageous emissary, he was spared the additional sorrow that his death would have brought.