To Rome by Faith

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you.” —Romans 1:9-11, RSV

SEEMINGLY for a considerable time Paul had had an intense desire to visit the brethren in Rome, but thus far the Lord’s providences had indicated otherwise. He apparently also felt reasonably certain that it was the Lord’s will for him to visit Rome, and the brethren there, for on his last missionary journey Luke tells us that “Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”—Acts 19:21

In due course Paul reached Jerusalem, and being found in the court of the temple, the religious leaders of Israel instigated a riot in the hope of killing him, and probably would have accomplished this had not the Roman authorities intervened and placed him in protective custody. They were holding Paul in the palace, when the Heavenly Father appeared to him by night and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” (Acts 23:11) Here the Lord was directly confirming to Paul that it was his will that he should go to Rome. From this point onward—which proved to be the beginning of that long and hazardous journey to Rome—Paul, having faith in the Lord’s promise, conducted himself accordingly, being always confident, and always alert to co-operate with the providences of his Heavenly Father by which he knew he was being overshadowed.

A Plot Foiled

When first taken into custody by the Roman guards, Paul asked permission to speak to his accusers—the infuriated Jews—and he was permitted to do so. This merely resulted in greater hatred toward him. Forty of them entered into a vow neither to eat nor drink until they had killed him. Paul’s sister’s son learned of this plot, and hurried to his uncle in the palace to inform him. Paul sent this young man to the “chief captain” to tell him about it. The result was that in the middle of that night a small army was sent to the castle to spirit Paul away, and he was taken to Caesarea, the home of Felix, the Roman governor for that region, and Paul was turned over to him.—Acts 23:14-33

Felix kept Paul in protective custody for two years. During that time his enemies in Jerusalem sent representatives with trumped-up charges against the apostle. These Paul answered in his usual forthright manner. On one occasion these enemies endeavored to persuade Felix to release Paul so he could return to Jerusalem to face their charges, thinking that this would give them an opportunity to kill him. Paul knew the situation, and refused to return to Jerusalem.

During that two years Felix “communed” with Paul a number of times—not because he wanted especially to be friendly with him, but because he hoped that Paul would offer him “bribe” money to obtain his release. Paul, of course, desired to go to Rome to visit the brethren there, and if he had planned his own journey he doubtless would have visited various brethren en route.

But Paul knew the dangers which existed for him should he venture outside the protective arm of Rome. He knew, by faith, that the Lord, who had said to him in a vision that he would bear witness to the Gospel in Rome, had arranged the method by which he could safely reach this destination, which was through the protection of the Roman guards; so Paul elected to travel to Rome the more difficult way.

After the two years’ imprisonment by Felix, Paul was visited by Festus. On his way to Felix’ palace Festus visited Jerusalem and the religious rulers who were still waiting to kill Paul. He invited them to accompany him to the palace of Felix at Caesarea. Festus remained with these enemies of Paul for ten days before going on to see Felix, and apparently none of them accompanied him.

Paul, as always, gave a good account of himself before Festus, who “willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.”—Acts 25:9-11

Paul the Roman

In Paul’s appeal to Caesar we find him, by faith, co-operating with the Lord, who had assured him that he must go to Rome. When in Jerusalem one of the Roman guards questioned Paul’s claim to being a Roman citizen. The guard explained that he had purchased this freedom at great cost. To this Paul simply replied that he was born free. Paul was born in the city of Tarsus, which Augustus had declared to be a free city, which meant that those born there were free as citizens of Rome, regardless of their national or cultural background.

Paul knew that appealing his case to Rome assured him that he would not be set free, and thus exposed to his enemies who sought to kill him; he knew also that it placed the Roman government under obligation to provide protected transportation to Rome. It was Paul’s way of faith to co-operate with what he now knew to be the Lord’s will for him.

Paul knew that the journey would be a difficult one. There would be daily hardships. He would be a prisoner of Rome and therefore under the constant restrictions which his guards put upon him. But this was the way Paul chose to have it. Agrippa, after hearing Paul’s testimony, said, “This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”—Acts 26:32

At the time of Paul’s conversion, The Lord said to Ananias concerning him, “He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) For considerably more than two years, under prison conditions, Paul had now been faithfully bearing witness to the truth before “kings.” There were Felix, and Festus, and Agrippa. To Agrippa he said, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?” To Paul Agrippa said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”—Acts 26:8,28,29

Paul was not enjoying his bonds, but he knew that the enduring of them was his only hope of reaching Rome, and now he was about to embark on that long voyage by ship which would take him to Italy.

The narrative of this journey is contained in the 27th and 28th chapters of Acts. Paul—and other prisoners with him—was given into the custody of “Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.” Luke never speaks of his presence with Paul on the various journeys on which he accompanied Paul, but apparently he was with Paul on this occasion, for the pronoun “we” constantly appears in the record.

Shortly after the ship sailed, “we touched down at Sidon,” Luke says. And in this connection it is indicated that Paul was considered in a different class from the other prisoners, for as Luke observes, “Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.” Apparently there were brethren in this place, and Julius knew about it, and reasoned that Paul would be delighted to spend a little time with them. While the account does not say so, it would seem that the apostle was permitted to visit his friends unaccompanied by a guard.

Ship Delayed

Unfavorable winds delayed the progress of the ship, but it was decided to go as far as Crete, before putting up for the winter. But they did not remain there, and upon leaving they ran into a fierce storm, and the ship was in danger of being wrecked. When the outlook was extremely dark Paul spoke to those aboard ship, and said unto them, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar; and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”—Acts 27:21-24

Just as Paul kept ever in mind the God-arranged objective of this journey, the Lord also remembered, and here, through an angel, reminded his faithful servant that his presence would go with him; that Paul would not lose his life, and that all on the ship would likewise be saved. This assurance gave Paul courage to start directing the rest of the passengers in order that their lives might be saved. For one thing, they must remain aboard the ship as long as it was afloat.

There were a total of 276 on the ship, and the soldiers in charge of the prisoners advised that the prisoners be killed, lest, when the ship was cast on shore, they escape. “But the centurion [Julius], willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose.” (vs. 43) Here again we see the overruling providence of God in connection with the man chosen to be in charge of the prisoners. First he gave Paul liberty to visit the brethren at one port of call, and now he was saving the lives of all the prisoners, that this special prisoner, who had appealed to Caesar, might not be destroyed.

Three Months in Melita

The ship could not withstand the ravages of the storm and was driven ashore and broken to pieces. But all the passengers reached land safely—some by swimming, some on boards, etc. When they were finally able to look around they found that they had landed on the Island of Melita—modern Malta. They had come a long way, but were still some distance from their destination. The winter season had set in, and they decided to remain on the island until spring and then seek passage to Italy on another ship.

The people on the island were kind to the ship’s passengers, and did what they could to make them comfortable. These “barbarous people,” as Luke calls them, “showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.”

Minds which are controlled by superstition often reason oddly. When these barbarians saw that Paul was not hurt by the attack of the viper, they quickly changed their opinion of him, which in itself was logical. But then they went to the other extreme. Now, instead of being a murderer, he was a god. But even this, no doubt, worked to Paul’s advantage. Of course he doubtless soon disabused their minds as to his being a god.

Paul had a busy winter on that island. The father of the governor was seriously ill, apparently “unto death,” and Paul used his gift of healing to restore the man to health. The news of this quickly spread, and Paul had the opportunity of performing many miracles. The attitude of the people is clearly expressed by Luke. After telling of Paul’s healing the governor’s father, he continues, “So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.”

Italy and Rome at Last

Paul and his company departed from Malta “in a ship of Alexandria.” There were stopovers at Syracuse and Rhegium, and finally, with the help of favorable south winds, they landed at Puteoli, in Italy, At Puteoli they found brethren with whom they remained seven days; then they started their long trek to Rome. In some way the brethren at Rome heard that Paul had landed in Italy and would soon reach Rome, so they sent a delegation to meet him at Appii forum, and The three taverns, “whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and, took courage.”

The depth of feeling expressed in this report by Luke can be appreciated by taking into consideration the experiences through which Paul had passed during the years since his apprehension in Jerusalem by the Roman authorities. There were his confrontations with his enemies, the religious rulers of Israel; his several trials before the Roman rulers in the palace of Felix; and finally, that most difficult voyage by ship, first to Malta, and then on to Italy. There was little that happened to him in all that time, and in all these experiences, that would be conducive to peace and tranquility. What sustained him through it all was the Lord’s clearly stated will, that he should bear witness to the truth in Rome.

And now Paul had almost reached Rome. He had co-operated with the Lord, and was being taken to Rome as a prisoner, and was almost there—so close that his friends and brethren could walk out to meet him. No wonder he took courage! It was encouragement just to see the brethren from Rome—brethren whom he had never seen before. And while he knew that as a prisoner he would probably have little contact with these brethren after he reached Rome, it was a comfort and encouragement just to see them for a short time; and especially since they had made this effort to see and fellowship with him.

This token of his nearness to Rome would also be an encouragement to Paul from the Lord, assuring him of his good pleasure in his desire to co-operate in what the Lord had expressed as being his will. Paul would now have this, another reminder, that the Lord never fails in the undertaking of his purpose. He had brought his beloved apostle to Rome, and Paul knew that his ever-faithful Lord would stand by and help him in all his needs, no matter what occurred in that Roman prison to which he was being taken.

Arrival

“We,” observes Luke, “came to Rome [where] the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.” Later Luke explains that he dwelt in his own hired house for two years, “and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

After his tiring journey Paul rested for three days, and then sent for the leaders of the Jewish community in Rome, that he might bear witness first to them. When Paul went from city to city as a free man his usual custom was first to visit the Jewish synagogues; and now, here in Rome as a prisoner, he followed this same procedure. He was not free to visit the synagogue, so he invited the people of the synagogue to come to him.

Paul seemed to sense that these Jewish leaders might well wonder why a fellow Jew had been brought to Rome as a prisoner, so he immediately explained the circumstances, making it clear that the religious rulers in the Jerusalem area were really responsible for it. This brought a positive response from his brethren according to the flesh in Rome, who denied that they had received any word concerning him. But they gleaned from what Paul had said that he was a follower of Jesus, and they wanted to hear what he had to say about it, explaining, “For as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

Paul, on a day appointed, gave his usual brilliant testimony concerning Jesus and the kingdom. Some of the Jews accepted what he said; others did not. This had been Paul’s experience when he witnessed in the Jewish synagogues. Quoting from an Old Testament prophecy concerning the blindness of Israel, Paul said, “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasonings among themselves.”

To the Gentiles Also

Luke closes his record simply by telling us that Paul dwelt in his own hired house for two years preaching the kingdom of God, and here the Book of Acts ends. Just why Luke did not continue with his usual details we can only surmise. Later, after Paul had been transferred to a cell in the prison, he wrote to Timothy and indicated that Luke was with him. This is the last we learn concerning Luke.

As to what occurred in the experiences of Paul during those two years we depend on his own testimony, which is contained in his letter to the brethren at Philippi. We quote from the New English translation: “Friends, I want you to understand that the work of the Gospel has been helped on, rather than hindered, by this business of mine. My imprisonment in Christ’s cause has become common knowledge to all at headquarters here, and indeed among the public at large; and it has given confidence to most of our fellow-Christians [some of whom met Paul on his way to Rome] to speak the word of God fearlessly and with extraordinary courage. Some, indeed, proclaim Christ in a jealous and quarrelsome spirit; others proclaim him in true goodwill, and these are moved by love for me; they know that it is to defend the Gospel that I am where I am. But the others, moved by personal rivalry, present Christ from mixed motives, meaning to stir up fresh trouble for me as I lie in prison. What does it matter? One way or another, in pretence or in sincerity, Christ is set forth, and for that I rejoice.”—Phil. 1:12-18

Paul’s commission from the Lord, so far as his journey to Rome was concerned, had been abundantly fulfilled. It was simply that he was “to bear witness …at Rome.” (Acts 23:11) He had done this. He had borne witness to both Jews and Gentiles, and the effects of that witness might well have spread throughout much of Europe. The witness had not been given under favorable circumstances, but this mattered not to Paul. He had journeyed to Rome under the shadow of death threats from his fellow Jews. He did this by faith, and when he reached Rome, he carried out the purpose for which the Lord wanted him to go.

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