ACTS: Paul Finally Made it to Rome! Based on His Testimony from Prison, "some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved."

After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. (Acts 28:11-12)

From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. (Acts 28:13-15) Nearly four years later, but Paul finally made it to Rome.  

Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. (Acts 28:16) Why? Remember Festus told King Agrippa, "I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.” (Acts 25:25-27) After hearing Paul, King Agrippa and the rest agreed, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” ... “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (Acts 26:31-32)

And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” (Acts 28:17-20)

Paul suffered trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. (II Timohty 2:9)  God was in control, and He had told Paul, "...for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:11)  Even if that required, as Paul would later write, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand." (II Timothy 4:6)  But before his departure from this world, he had to do as Jesus once testified, "Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)

So, now he was speaking with the leaders of the Jews. Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. (Acts 28:21-24)

So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”’[Isaiah 6:9-10] (Acts 28:25-27) 

“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. (Acts 28:28-31)  What's the one word that caused the disbelieving Jews to depart? Gentiles!

Prejudice is a difficult barrier to tear down.  People often have difficulty letting go of their opinions about others, regardless of that fact that God made ALL men, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,... (Psalm 8:5-6)  When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he clearly stated, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)  We are to love and share the gospel with all people, for the Lord said, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh." (Jeremiah 32:27)  

Paul remained in prison, permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him, until he was beheaded sometime between 62-67 A.D.  Nero Claudius Caesar was an evil man and held the imperial throne from 54-68 A.D.  Remember during the storm before they were shipwrecked, and angel of the Lord said to Paul, "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar;" (Acts 27:24) He eventually did go before Nero, and was sentenced to death by beheading.  The books of the Bible don't record when that happened, because the 66 books of the Bible strictly deal with the coming of Christ, the life of Christ, the death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and the spreading of the gospel of Christ Jesus.

From Rome, Paul would write letters to the churches in Ephesus, Philippi, Colossi; letters to Philemon, Timothy, Titus; and it is widely believed he wrote the letter to the Hebrews. James wrote his letter, Peter wrote his letters, Luke wrote Acts, Peter dictated the gospel Mark wrote, Jude wrote his letter; John wrote his gospel and letters and the book of Revelations.  We will continue our study by studying each letter in the chronological order it was written...