Wednesday: Paul in Rome, Finally
After three months in Malta, Paul and his companions were finally able to continue their journey (Acts 28:11). They arrived in Puteoli (Acts 28:13)—modern Pozzuoli, in the Bay of Naples—from where they would travel to Rome by road (see Acts 28:11-16).
The news of Paul’s approach quickly reached Rome, and from there a group of believers traveled several miles south to welcome him.
Image © Providence Collection Goodsalt.com
Though he had never been to Rome, the apostle had numerous friends in the city: co-workers, converts, relatives, and many others who were very dear to him (Rom. 16:3-16). The meeting on the Appian Way must have been particularly moving, especially in view of the shipwreck and the fact that Paul was now a prisoner. As a result of such a unique demonstration of love and care on the part of his beloved friends, the apostle thanked God and felt deeply heartened as he was about to face trial before the emperor.
In his official report, Festus certainly must have written that according to Roman law, Paul was not guilty of any significant crime (Acts 25:26-27; Acts 26:31-32). This probably explains why he was allowed to rent a private dwelling (Acts 28:30) instead of being sent to a regular prison or military camp, though after Roman fashion he was chained to a soldier the whole time. That Paul was at his own expense implies he was able to carry on his own trade (Acts 18:3).
Read Acts 28:17-22. What did Paul do as soon as he settled down?
Though Paul could not go to the synagogue, the synagogue could come to him. So, soon after his arrival, following his policy of going first to the Jews (Rom. 1:16), he called together the local Jewish leaders to state his innocence and explain, as he had done before, that he had been arrested for no reason other than the hope of Israel (Acts 23:6, Acts 24:15, Acts 26:6-8). His intention was not so much to defend himself as to create an atmosphere of trust that allowed him to preach the gospel, showing how Jesus’ resurrection was the fulfillment of Israel’s ancestral hope. Surprised that they had not received any information from Jerusalem about Paul, the Jews decided to hear him.
| Read Acts 28:22. What does this tell us about the hostility against the believers still at this time? How can we stay faithful even when others are talking against our faith? |
(33)
And by what means was an entrance achieved and a firm footing gained for Christianity where even its admission seemed impossible? (the palace the house of Nero) In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul ascribed to his own imprisonment his success in winning converts to the faith from Nero's household. Fearful lest it might be thought that his afflictions had impeded the progress of the gospel, he assured them: "I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." Philippians 1:12.
Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 461-465.
Paul had gone to Rome as a prisoner, people's hope had been crushed and their expectation of furtherance of gospel in Rome had vanished. Human expectations had failed, but not the purpose of God.
How are you measuring your success and failure?
What is the measuring stick for success?
We know that where ever Paul went he preached first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Was there a difference in the messages? Should there be a difference when we share the Good News to believers or non-believers? The core message/mission that Jesus gave to Paul on the road to Damascus was Love/submit to God, sins forgiven, promise of eternal life.
To the Jews he gave them further light on what they already knew.
To the Gentiles he went all the way back to creation and the reason why we should worship God and repent because of the judgement.
Jesus words to Paul on the Damascus road:
Act 26:17 delivering you from the people (Jews) and the nations (Gentiles), to whom I now send you Act 26:18 in order to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
At Rome, Paul spoke to the Jews - showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law & the Prophets.
Act 28:23 And they having appointed him a day, many came to him in his lodging; to whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them the things concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets, from morning until evening.
Paul's message to the Gentiles:
Act 17:22 And standing in the middle of the Areopagus, Paul said, Men, Athenians, I see that you are fearful of gods in everything.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by and saw the things you worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing then whom you worship, I make Him known to you.
Act 17:24 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,
Act 17:25 nor is served with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life and breath and all things to all.
Act 17:26 And He has made all nations of men of one blood to dwell on all the face of the earth, ordaining fore-appointed seasons and boundaries of their dwelling,
Act 17:27 to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though indeed He is not far from each one of us.
Act 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also certain of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.
Act 17:29 Then being offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by art and man's imagination.
Act 17:30 Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent,
Act 17:31 because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead.
The best message to all - love, save, regeneration, renewal, by grace, heirs of eternal life:
Tit 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Tit 3:6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Tit 3:7 that being justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We must always stay faithful to God we must not let people take us away from God's word.lets be wise and stick to God's good work.God says in his word let the foolish ad the wise grow together so that when his time comes he is the one to harvest not us so lets be like the five wise virgins who kept and save their light until the bridegroom came.lets not waste time with this wordly things
A group of believers welcomed Paul to Rome. Satan has confused many as to Who made it to Rome. The lies that Peter made it to Rome, wrote his book there, died and was burried at Peter's Tropaion has been circulating for ages. It is a lie that Peter was the first bishop of Rome. The evidence does not exist. Peter does not even qualify because he was Married.
It seems that the cosmopolitan air of Rome was more open to Paul's experience. Although the jews there had heard bad things about him, they did not seem to be so radical as in Jerusalem. As in a great city of today, people seemed to be more focused on their daily toils than in defending their beliefs. It seemed that there was a positive atmosphere to the Good News Paul was bringing. God could still use Paul to spread the truth right in the center of the world. Even when things seem to be completely against us, we must trust in God to do and be what and where He needs us!
Soon after his arrival to Rome, Paul arranged to share the gospel with the local Jews who had only heard evil of the christian sect, so they desired to hear Paul on this matter.
Our faith has nothing to do with the opinions of others, and is only based on God's Word and the Truth found in it. God's promises are the basis of our faith in the Lamb of God who takes away our sin, and imparts the Holy Spirit to all who receive Him and believe on His name.
Until earth is cleansed of all sin on the appointed day, there will always be those who object against the truth and will seek to turn others away from it. Satan will never rest his cause until he is “reduced to ashes upon the earth”. Our commission is to “teach the gospel to every creature”, to each soul created in the image of God, often against great opposition. If we would hear the words “Well done good and faithful servant!”, we will fulfill that commission by God's grace and power of the Holy Spirit.
Although Paul was in an unfortunate position in life, brought on by those who thought they were God's chosen people; about to face trial he still saw the need to share the gospel. Don't let the circumstances of the environment distract from the mission (repeat 3 times). Have a blessed day🙂