Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard (First Roman Captivity)
Possible Date: 61-63 A.D.
Scripture: 28:10-31
NOTE:
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As Paul arrives in Rome, Luke does not reveal what happened to Paul’s case. Apparently, it had not yet been decided when Luke finished Acts. there is no indication that he will appear before any court or government official to press his appeal. Instead, it seems that he is placed under house arrest, being permitted to maintain his living quarters while being guarded by a Roman soldier. Paul is given the freedom to continue preaching from his lodging place. Luke thereafter records that Paul invites the local Jewish leaders to his house to tell them about Jesus and the kingdom of God. Characteristically, some believe while others do not, a result which Paul attributes to the openness of mind with which a person might listen to the good news about Jesus.
There are good reasons for believing that Paul was released since he had been found innocent by all Roman officials up to this point. Ancient tradition tells us that Paul actually went to Spain as he desired (see Rom. 15:24). In his captivity letters, Paul expressed his hope of being released (see Philem. 22) and his confidence that he would be released (Phil. 1:25). Paul’s pastoral epistles contain items that cannot be fitted into the Book of Acts, suggesting that they were written later. For instance, Titus 1:5 implies that Paul ministered on the island of Crete, something that is not reported in the Book of Acts. Paul most likely resumed his missionary travels for a few more years before being rearrested, retried, condemned, and executed as a martyr sometime between A.D. 64 and 67.
A Harmony Of The Life Of Paul
First Roman Captivity
(61-63 A.D.)
INTRODUCTION
- After his fateful voyage, Paul and his companions arrived at Rome...
- Where he was placed under house arrest - Acts 28:16
- Where he waited two years to make his appeal before Caesar - cf. Acts 25:9-12; 28:30
- Yet Paul was not idle during this time - cf. Acts 28:30-31
- He received many visitors
- He was not forbidden to teach those who came to see him
- He likely composed several epistles -- Indeed, it was a fruitful time for Paul
[At the close of the book of Acts, we are given an indication of what it must have been like during those two years, as we read of...]
I. HIS MEETINGS WITH JEWISH LEADERS
A. THE FIRST MEETING...
- Paul called for the leaders of the Jews in Rome - Acts 28:17a
- He explained why he was there, and the reason for his appeal - Acts 28:17b-20
- He had done nothing against the Jews or their customs
- Though Roman officials wanted to let him go, Jews from Jerusalem spoke against it, forcing him to appeal to Caesar
- Yet it was for the hope of Israel he was bound in chains
- The Jewish leaders desire to learn more - Acts 28:21-22
- For they neither received letters nor heard anything evil of Paul
- But they did want to hear what he had to say about this “sect” spoken against everywhere
B. THE SECOND MEETING...
- On an appointed day, they came to his lodging - Acts 28:23a
- They heard him explain and solemnly testify - Acts 28:23b
- Of the kingdom of God and concerning Jesus - cf. Acts 8:12
- From both the Law of Moses and the Prophets - cf. Luke 24:44-47
- Lasting from morning until evening
- Their reaction was mixed; some were persuaded, while others disbelieved - Acts 28:24
- They departed after Paul gave them a solemn warning - Acts 28:25-28
- Of being hard of hearing and closing their eyes - cf. Isaiah 6:9-10
- That the message of God’s salvation has been sent to Gentiles and they will hear it
- They departed and disputed among themselves - Acts 28:29
[The closing verses in Acts indicate that similar meetings were repeated time and again during the two years of Paul’s first Roman captivity (Acts 28:30-31). When we turn to Paul’s epistles, we can glean more things about...]
II. HIS CIRCUMSTANCES IN ROME
A. PAUL’S COMPANIONS...
- Timothy
- The young disciple Paul had picked up on his second journey - Acts 16:1-3
- Who joined Paul in several salutations in epistles written from Rome - Philemon 1; Colossians 1:1; Philippians 1:1
- Who was sent to Philippi on behalf of Paul - Philippians 2:19-23
- Epaphras
- Whose visit to Paul prompted the writing of Colossians - Colossians 1:3-8
- Who sent his greetings to his beloved brethren at Colosse - Colossians 4:12-13
- Who was described as Paul’s “fellow-prisoner” - Philemon 1:23
- Onesimus and Tychicus
- Onesimus, the runaway slave converted to Jesus Christ, was sent along with the letter to his master Philemon - Philemon 10-21
- Onesimus also accompanied Tychicus who bore the epistle to the Colossians - Colossians 4: 7-9
- Tychicus, who was from Asia (Acts 20:4) was also the bearer of the epistle to the Ephesians - Ephesians 6:21-22
- Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, Jesus (Justus) - Philemon 24
- Marcus, also known as John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin - Colossians 4:10; cf. Acts 12:25; 13:5, 13; 15:37-40
- Aristarchus, Paul’s “fellow-prisoner” - Colossians 4:10; cf. Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2
- Demas, who later forsook Paul - Colossians 4:14; cf. 2 Timothy 4:10
- Luke, the beloved physician who traveled off and on again with Paul, and accompanied him on his voyage to Rome - Colossians 4:14; cf. Acts 16:10-12; 20:6; 21:1-17; 27:1-28:16
- Jesus (also called Justus), a “fellow-worker” with Paul - Colossians 4:11
- Epaphroditus
- Who brought a gift to Paul from the Philippians - Philippians 4:18
- Who became the bearer of the epistle to the Philippians - Philippians 2:25-30 -- His companions undoubtedly were a great source of comfort for Paul and enabled him to do much good while imprisoned in Rome
B. PAUL’S PREACHING...
- Continued preaching despite his chains - Colossians 1:23-29; Ephesians 3:1-9
- Requested prayers for wisdom and boldness to continue preaching - Colossians 4:3-4; Ephesians 6:18-20
- Converted Onesimus, the runaway slave - Philemon 10
- Had opportunities among the palace guard, and apparent success in Caesar’s household - Philippians 1:12-20; 4:22 -- Paul’s success in preaching reinforces the idea that the gospel cannot be bound
C. PAUL’S LETTERS...
- The Epistle to Philemon (61 or 62 AD.) - Philemon 1
- Purpose: To secure forgiveness for Onesimus
- Theme: Restoration Of A Slave Brother
- Brief Outline:
- Greetings - Philemon 1-3
- Thanksgiving and prayer for Philemon - Philemon 4-7
- Plea on behalf of Onesimus - Philemon 8-21
- Concluding remarks - Philemon 22-25
- The epistle to the Colossians (61 or 62 A.D.) - Colossians 1:1-2
- Purpose: To warn against the “Colossian heresy”
- Theme: Christ, The Fullness Of God, And Preeminent, All-Sufficient Savior
- Brief Outline:
- The preeminence of Christ - Colossians 1:1-23
- The apostle of Christ - Colossians 1:24-2:7
- Warnings against the Colossian heresy - Colossians 2:8-23
- The Christian solution - Colossians 3:1-4:6
- Paul’s companions - Colossians 4:7-18
- The Epistle to the Ephesians (61 or 62 A.D.) - Ephesians 1:1
- Purpose: To remind Christians of their spiritual blessings and responsibilities
- Theme: The Believer’s Riches In Christ
- Brief Outline:
- Doctrine: Our riches in Christ - Ephesians 1:1-3:21
- Duty: Our responsibilities in Christ - Ephesians 4:1-6:20
- The Epistle to the Philippians (63 A.D.) - Philippians 1:1
- Purpose: To thank the church for its gift, and encourage faithfulness
- Theme: Rejoice In The Lord!
- Brief Outline:
- The situation in Rome - Philippians 1:1-26
- Exhortation to behavior worthy of the gospel - Philippians 1:27-2:18
- Plans involving Timothy and Epaphroditus - Philippians 2:19-30
- Warnings against Judaism and antinomianism - Philippians 3:1-21
- Exhortations to unity, joy, and peace - Philippians 4:1-9
- Thanksgiving for their generous gift - Philippians 4:10-23 -- The letters of Paul exemplify the power of letter-writing, especially when limited by circumstances
D. PAUL’S LOVE AND CARE FOR THE CHURCHES...
- Evidenced in the epistles he wrote during this time
- Such as Colossians, to a church he had not seen - Colossians 2:1-5
- Such as Ephesians, to a church with whom he had spent much time - Acts 20:17-21
- Such as Philippians, to a church that was dear to his heart - Philippians 1:3-5; 4:1
- Evidenced in the prayers he offered for them
- His prayer for the Colossians - Colossians 1:9-11
- His prayers for the Ephesians - Ephesians 1:15-21; 3:14-19
- His prayer for the Philippians - Philippians 1:9-11 -- Paul’s love and concern for others despite his own circumstances exemplifies the mind of Christ - cf. Philippians 2:4-8
E. PAUL’S FAITH AND JOY IN HIS SUFFERING...
- He rejoiced in his sufferings - Colossians 1:24; Philippians 2:16-18
- He sought to magnify Christ in his sufferings - Philippians 1:20 -- Paul’s imprisonment allowed him to practice what he had been preaching (and practicing ) all along - cf. Romans 5:3-5
F. PAUL’S EXPECTATION OF RELEASE...
- Evidenced by his plans to visit Philemon - Philemon 22
- Expressed in his epistle to the Philippians - Philippians 1:23-27; 2:24
CONCLUSION
- Paul fully expected to be released from his imprisonment, as expressed...
- By his plans to visit Philemon - Philemon 22
- In his epistle to the Philippians - Philippians 1:23-27; 2:24
- That he was released and traveled some more is evidenced...
- By references made in such epistles as 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus
- By the testimony of those who came along later: Chrysostom, Jerome, Eusebius, and even Clement of Rome, who lived in the latter part of the first century A.D.
Philippians 1:12-14 NLT - And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.
May we learn from Paul’s example of how “good can come out of ill”, and use whatever circumstances in which we find ourselves to be utilized for the glory of God!
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