Rome: Paul's Imprisonments And End

by J. Miller | Category: The Growth Of The Fellowship | Dec 1959

The planting of the church of God in Rome was the work of unknown persons. It was in existence when Paul wrote the epistle to the Romans, probably from Corinth, certainly from Greece, for in Romans 16 we have the commendation of Phoebe the deaconess of Cenchrea, a town contiguous to Corinth. The Roman epistle may have been written during the winter of A.D. 57-58. Certainly there is not the slightest evidence that the church in Rome was planted by Peter. It was certainly not planted by Paul. The later chapters of the Roman epistle prove this, and on Paul's arrival in Italy brethren from Rome came to meet him, and this was the first time that we read of Paul being in Rome.

When Paul and his companions entered Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him. At the end of the Acts we are told, "And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him."

Three days after he arrived in Rome he called together the chief of the Jews and gave to them a brief account of how he came to be a prisoner in Rome. Though he had done nothing against the Jewish people nor against the customs of the fathers, yet he had been delivered a prisoner into the hands of the Romans. The Romans had examined him and would have set him at liberty, but because the Jews spoke against it, he was constrained to appeal unto Caesar. He had intreated them to see and to speak with him, for it was because of the Hope of Israel (the Christ) he was bound with "this chain." Their reply was to the effect that they had received no letters regarding him from Judea, but they desired to hear what he thought, and concerning this sect " (the disciples of the Lord), for it was known that it was everywhere spoken against. When they had appointed a day, they came to his lodging in great number. He expounded the truth, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening. It happened in Rome as elsewhere, for "some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved". The Jews could not agree among themselves, and Paul quoted the words of the Holy Spirit through Isaiah, found in Isaiah 6.9, 10, in regard to Jewish deafness and blindness, and he concluded with the words, Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles : they will also hear" (Acts 28.17-28). Thus ends the story of the Acts of the Apostles which began in Jerusalem and ends in Rome with the apostle bound, but as he wrote to Timothy in his second epistle to him, near the end of his second imprisonment shortly before the end of his wonderful life, "the word of God is not bound" (2 Timothy 2.9). Paul had set in motion among Gentile peoples a message which in due time was to reach all shores, and bring endless blessing to countless millions.

It seems clear that Paul was released from prison in Rome after two years, it is thought about A.D.63. It is generally accepted that he wrote the four epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon whilst he was in Rome during his first imprisonment. Some have thought that after his release he visited Spain, but that is very doubtful (Romans 15.24, 28). There is no proof whatever that his desire to visit Spain was ever realized. That he left Timothy in Ephesus when he was going into Macedema after his release is clear (1 Timothy 1.3). He also left Titus in Crete. He also says that he left Trophimus at Miletus sick, which may be later than the time that he left Timothy at Ephesus and Titus in Crete (2 Timothy 4.20). It is also clear that after he left Timothy and Titus, he decided to winter at Nicopolis, the seaport town near to Philippi, and thither he desired Titus to come to him (Titus 3.12). In order to relieve Titus in Crete Paul was going to send to him either Artemas or Tychicus, and Titus was to set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, and see that nothing be wanting unto them (Titus 3.18). Yet it seems clear that Paul soon found himself once more a prisoner in Rome.

Though so near his end, his interest in the movements in the Lord's servants was unabated, as we learn from 2 Timothy 4.9-12. Demas, who was one of the Lord's servants as late as the time of Paul's first imprisonment (Colossians 4. 14; Philemon 24), now forsook him, because of his love for the present age, and went off on his own to Thessalonica. Crescens had gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. He had sent Tychicus to Ephesus, and Timothy, who was probably at Ephesus, was to come to him at Rome and to bring Mark with him. He was also to bring Paul's cloke which he had left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. Whether Timothy and Mark reached Paul before the fatal day had come of which he wrote, " I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come," we know not (2 Timothy 4.6). Only Luke the beloved physician was with him, the faithful Luke, who perchance ministered to him medically to relieve the pains of his poor suffering body which had been subjected to so much abuse at the savage hands of men.

In 2 Timothy 4.16 he speaks of his first defence, which possibly was his first appearance at Caesar's tribunal (though the emperor Nero may not have presided there in person), when no one took his part, but the Lord stood by him and strengthened him. The result of his defence was to the effect that all the Gentiles might hear the message of the gospel for which he was an ambassador in chains. No doubt his defence was circulated far and wide. At that time he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, whom ancient writers understood to be the emperor Nero. Here the story and work of Paul ends, so far as the inspired narrative is concerned, and we need not turn to other sources of information which may be of doubtful veracity to fill in what is not given in the inspired Scriptures.

We have traced the work of God, in that Fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which began in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost at the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), and have seen it extend to Samaria and to Galilee. Then onward flowed the wave of blessing to Antioch in Syria, and from thence the apostles Paul and Barnabas were sent forth by the Holy Spirit. The province of Cilicia is joined in the sacred narrative with that of Syria. Paul and Barnabas went through Cyprus and on through Pamphylia to the province of Galatia. Besides in the province of Galatia, churches of God were found later in the provinces of Cappadocia, Pontus, Bythinia and Asia. Then the Fellowship extended to Macedonia and Achaia, Dalmatia and Crete, and on to Italy and to Rome. We know not in what parts of the earth the other apostles laboured, but the coming day will reveal the scenes and fruits of their labours no doubt. The Acts of the Apostles is mainly taken up with the work of Peter in the early chapters, and then with that of Paul from chapter 13 to the end of the book.

At the close of the apostolic period the apostasy set in and soon the pattern left by the apostles in the churches of God was given up and men's ways took the place of G6d's ways. But the pattern for the churches of God still remains in the New Testament Scriptures, to be followed by all who truly love the Lord and fear His holy Name. Let the scattered children of God prayerfully read the Scriptures to find out where they should be and what they should do in honour of their soon-coming Lord.

J. Miller | Dec 1959
The Growth Of The Fellowship