Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

People's New Testament

13:23 Our brother Timothy is set at liberty. How intimately Timothy was associated with Paul all his epistles show. Timothy too joined him at Rome during his imprisonment. (See salutations of the so-called Prison Epistles, Php 1:1 Col 1:1 Phm 1:1.) This language implies that Timothy had been arrested and afterwards set free. Of this imprisonment, or just where it occurred, there is no other history.

Wesley's Notes

13:23 If he come - To me.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. our brother Timothy-So Paul, 1Co 4:17; 2Co 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Th 3:2.

is set at liberty-from prison. So Aristarchus was imprisoned with Paul. Birks translates, "dismissed," "sent away," namely, on a mission to Greece, as Paul promised (Php 2:19). However, some kind of previous detention is implied before his being let go to Philippi. Paul, though now at large, was still in Italy, whence he sends the salutations of Italian Christians (Heb 13:24), waiting for Timothy to join him, so as to start for Jerusalem: we know from 1Ti 1:3, he and Timothy were together at Ephesus after his departing from Italy eastward. He probably left Timothy there and went to Philippi as he had promised. Paul implies that if Timothy shall not come shortly, he will start on his journey to the Hebrews at once.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:22-25 So bad are men, and even believers, through the remainders of their corruption, that when the most important, comfortable doctrine is delivered to them for their own good, and that with the most convincing evidence, there is need of earnest entreaty and exhortation that they would bear it, and not fall out with it, neglect it, or reject it. It is good to have the law of holy love and kindness written in the hearts of Christians, one towards another. Religion teaches men true civility and good breeding. It is not ill-tempered or uncourteous. Let the favour of God be toward you, and his grace continually working in you, and with you, bringing forth the fruits of holiness, as the first-fruits of glory.