CTG 0015

Continued from CTG 0014 ...


"Pray also for me ... to make known ... the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that ... I may speak boldly ... (Ephesians 6:18-19 LITV)."

Ambassador in a chain

 

His life being threatened by a rioting crowd in Jerusalem, Paul was taken in to custody by the Roman authorities.

When it came to the tribune Lysias' attention that the Jews were conspiring to assassinate Paul, he arranged for him to be taken to Governor Felix's headquarters in Caesarea (Maritima), 100 kilometres away on the Mediterranean coast.

A couple of years later Festus succeeded Felix as governor. Felix had left Paul in custody, for political reasons. Festus, for the same reason, was about to yield to the Jewish authorities' intrigue. Paul exercised his inherited right as a Roman citizen to request that the emperor (Nero Caesar) decide his case. Festus said to him: "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go (Acts 25:12 ESV)."

Paul was taken as a prisoner to Italy by sea. The journey proved to be hazardous, resulting in shipwreck on Malta. In the middle of these horrendous circumstances an angel of God had assured Paul that he would still stand before Caesar. In the meantime the lives of soldiers, sailors, fellow prisoners, friends and indigenous islanders were influenced by his faithful witness and trust in God.

When he and the others were finally brought to Rome, news had reached Christians in the city that the travellers were approaching the end of their journey and they came out to meet them.

In Rome Paul was allowed (at his own expense) to stay in his own hired dwelling, chained to one of the soldiers who in rotation were assigned to him.

Being under house arrest he was not able to visit the synagogues in the imperial capital. Nevertheless, within a few days he had arranged for the local leaders of the Jewish community to visit him.

He explained to them that, though he had appealed for the emperor to decide his case, he had no desire to bring a charge against his own people. It had been the intransigence of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, and the scheming of those who had conspired together with them, that had precipitated his being perpetually held in custody by the Roman authorities, though the imperial rulers knew that he had done nothing to incur the death penalty. In fact, it was Paul's utter commitment to Israel's hope in the Messiah, as foretold in the Old Testament scriptures and fulfilled in Jesus, which had given rise to such opposition that resulted in his now being confined by a chain.

In response to his explanation the local Jewish leaders there in Rome claimed that they had received no news about him from Judea. However, they wanted to hear his views.

"So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul's lodging (NLT). Paul talked to them all day, from morning to evening, explaining everything involved in the kingdom of God, and trying to persuade them all about Jesus by pointing out what Moses and the prophets had written about him (MSG)." - Acts 28:23

Some were persuaded, others refused to believe. Disagreeing among themselves, they left after Paul made a final statement (Acts 28:24-28).

In the main his own Jewish people were resistant to the good news about Jesus, which caused him much sorrow. Nevertheless, he trusted God that a time would come when the eyes of a later generation would be opened. But in real time, although he never neglected his own people, his God-given commission was to reach out to all others.

Paul remained under custody in Rome probably sometime between AD 60-62.

"He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." - Acts 28:30-31 ESV

This is an amazing statement. Though under house arrest and chained to a soldier, Paul's lodging was an open door for all nationalities and became a base from which the gospel was spread throughout the city and beyond. Local believers and workers were inspired and soldiers and even the emperor's household were influenced. Churches and individuals further afield were also encouraged by means of letters (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). And he encouraged prayer support (Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:3-4,18). The church in Philippi sent him help (Philippians 4:10-20).

There are biblical reasons that suggest Paul was released after this period, continuing his work (1 Timothy and Titus), before his final imprisonment and death (2 Timothy). Was his longing to spread the gospel in Spain ever realised? The New Testament doesn't give us the answer. (A good Study Bible or Commentary will help you with this question.) We can be certain it was always his longing to reach people who had never heard of Christ (Romans 15:20-21).

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CONSIDER:

- Whatever circumstances we go through for the sake of his name, the Lord will never forsake us.
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FOR FURTHER READING:

Acts 21-28
Romans 9-11

Ephesians 6:18-20

Philippians 1:1-30

Philippians 4:22
2 Timothy 2:8-9; 4:1-22

Hebrews 13:5-6

1 Peter 5:8-11