An odd scene which cannot be explained by the Golden Legend version of the Life of Apollinaris. The saint has been imprisoned for refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods. He is being visited by an angel, whose hand gesture suggests he is explaining something (not delivering food to the saint, as has been suggested). The man standing to the right could be mistaken for a guard, as normally found in 'imprisonment' scenes, although he appears to be holding a palm of martyrdom, rather than a club. This figure could be the Christian centurian, mentioned in the vita, who releases the saint and helps to hide him in the street of the lepers.