Paul Under Guard in Rome

GOLDEN TEXT: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

ACTS 28:14-24, 30, 31

PAUL was a prisoner in Rome because, as he explained to the Jews in Rome whom he invited to visit him, he “was constrained to appeal unto Caesar.” Before going to Jerusalem where “bonds and imprisonment” awaited him, Paul decided that from there he would go to Rome, and then on to Spain. Due to the opposition of his own countrymen, which flared up so violently in Jerusalem when he was mobbed and would have been killed but for the intervention of Roman guards, he may have decided that the safest way to get to Rome would be under the protective custody of the Romans, hence his appeal to Caesar.

In any event, Paul arrived safely in Rome, although it was a slow, hazardous journey involving a shipwreck and spending a winter in Melita (now Malta). They left there in the spring and sailed to Syracuse, a port on the southeast tip of Sicily, thence to Rhegium, on the “toe” of Italy’s mainland. From there the south wind blew their vessel up the west coast to Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli). Here they found brethren, and tarried seven days. Paul was a highly honored prisoner, for apparently the stop-over was arranged for his benefit.

Then the company proceeded toward Rome, brethren from that city coming as far as Appii Forum and The Three Taverns to meet Paul. Luke informs us that when Paul met these brethren he “thanked God, and took courage.” There is a suggestion here that the difficult experiences of the long drawn out journey from Jerusalem to Rome had been very trying on the apostle. To see these brethren who had come out from Rome to meet him would be an assurance that the journey was nearly over. But more important, it revealed that there were those in Rome who were glad to see Paul, and who were at one with him in the Gospel.

Arriving in Rome, Paul was allowed to live in his own “hired house,” watched over, of course, by a Roman soldier; for he was still a prisoner. There he remained for two years waiting for his case to be heard. Meanwhile, however, he continued to preach the Gospel of the kingdom. First he sent for the prominent Jews of Rome and explained to them the circumstances which led up to his being there, disclaiming that he had done anything wrong against his people.

They replied that no report concerning him had been received from their brethren in Jerusalem. But they knew nothing about the group of believers in Christ with whom Paul was associated, except that it was everywhere “spoken against”; so they decided to hear him further on the subject. This, of course, was what Paul wanted.

A date was set for this meeting, and all that day, from morning until evening, Paul witnessed to them concerning Christ. Some believed, and some did not. Since these prominent Jews of Rome did not agree among themselves, some even accepting the Gospel, they reached no decision as to what their official attitude should be toward Paul.

Ordinarily when one is imprisoned his activities cease, but it was not so with Paul. In a letter to the church at Philippi, written while he was a prisoner in Rome, Paul explained, “I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places. And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.”—Phil. 1:12-14

Seemingly the fact that Paul was given a measure of freedom, even though a prisoner, and that he was not hindered from bearing witness to the truth, gave other brethren confidence that they could be more open and zealous in their witness work.

Our Golden Text is very appropriate to Paul’s experiences. He had endured much, and even now was a prisoner, but the Lord had caused all things to work together for his good. Despite his trials, he was still able to bear witness to the glorious Gospel of Christ, that Gospel of which he was not ashamed, and which was the “power of God unto salvation.”—Rom. 1:16

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul speaks of some who preached Christ “of envy and strife,” thinking to add to his bonds. (Phil. 1:15) This was apparently an effort to make Christianity appear in an unfavorable light before the Roman authorities. But Paul knew that even this would work together for good, and rejoiced that the Gospel was being preached, even though some had a wrong motive in their witnessing.

QUESTIONS

Why was Paul taken as a prisoner to Rome, and what special concession was given him there by the Roman authorities?

Who were the first ones for whom Paul sent when he arrived in Rome, and how did they receive his testimony?

What effect did Paul’s imprisonment have on the general proclamation of the Gospel? What did he write to the Philippian brethren about it?

In what way could preaching the Gospel through “envy and strife” add to Paul’s bonds?

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