The Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early church, by Luke the physician - Acts 28:11-31 comments: Paul's time in Rome

 

Acts 28:11 ¶  And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12  And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 13  And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: 14  Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 15  And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. 16  And when we came to Rome, 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.

 

Syracuse is on the southeast coast of Sicily. Rhegium is modern day Reggio Calabria on the toe of the boot of Italy. Puteoli is further up on the Italian mainland on the way to Rome. The Appii form was one days journey from Rome according to the Latin poet, Horace, on the famous Appian Way, a Roman road that still exists. They made things to last.

 

So, Paul had to live in a rented house probably, with a Roman soldier as a guard. This must have cost him a pretty penny as people were responsible for their own upkeep. The Praetorian Guard who guarded the emperor also, I have read, were responsible for guarding prisoners from the provinces who came to Rome. The Holy Spirit, through Paul, will give us much important Christian doctrine, hope, and joy through letters written by Paul or an amanuensis, a secretary, and distributed to the churches.

 

The traditional ending of Galatians says it was written from Rome and Paul says he wrote it. Tychicus wrote Ephesians at Paul’s dictation from Rome. Epaphroditus penned Philippians. Tychicus and Onesimus wrote Colossians from Rome. The Second Letter to Timothy was supposed to have been written from Rome and the letter to the Hebrews by Timothy. We are truly blessed by Paul’s imprisonment at Rome.

 

Acts 28:17 ¶  And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18  Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19  But when the

Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20  For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 21  And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 22  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

 

    23 ¶  And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24  And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25  And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word,

Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26  Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27  For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29  And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

 

    30 ¶  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

 

Tradition has Paul beheaded in Rome during the reign of the Emperor Nero. So, the beginning of the historical Christian church is recorded for us to read and to be edified by. History and tradition tell us that early Christianity will take two divergent paths. One will be when governments and rulers co-opt it as a justification for their own power and control and the other will be many different groups, often with wrong doctrine and many errors, but always, throughout history, trying to return in the best way they can imagine to the primitive church, to the simplicity that is in Christ, a reference to 2Corinthians 11:3.