Today we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.