It was obviously the Lord’s will that Paul travel to Rome.
Not only had the Lord made the promise that he would reach Rome,
but the Lord miraculously maintained His providential care.
(Is that a redundant statement?)
So, as we have seen, Paul, Luke and Aristarchus came in the great city.
But the only sight-seeing that the Apostle got to do was as he was brought through the gates and as he traveled up to the court-house or palace or senate or wherever it was that he was arraigned.
Luke probably had the privilege of seeing much more and he most likely shared this with Paul, but the preacher could only hear about the city and perhaps to see it from the widows of his own hired house.
By the way, the words “hired house” are but one word in the Greek, and the emphasis is on the “hired” part more than the “house” part.
In other words Paul had to rent a place to stay, but we can’t be sure what kind of place that it was – house, apartment, penthouse, or mansion.
Another question might be how he had the finances to hire his own house.
It appears to have come as missionary support from the churches.
This evening let’s try to get an overview of those two or so years that Paul spent in the great city.
Dean Howson refers to 2 million and wrote that they lived an area whose circumference was just 12 miles.
I find that really hard to believe. Perhaps he meant that it was 12 miles across the city.
He said that there were a million freemen in the city and an equal number of slaves.
He added that there were the usual differences between the rich and the poor, but that in Rome those differences were much more exaggerated.
Since the slaves were for the most part servants of the wealthy,
That meant that most of the free poor had little left to do to make a living for themselves.
They were coming from all over the world for a great variety of reasons.
And with them came hundreds of dialects, religions, morals and immorality.
Rome was the most cosmopolitan city in the world in its day.
And among those who were coming to Rome were people like Onesimus, the runaway slave of Philemon.
They pretended to be free men and often came with money that they had stolen from their masters.
Undoubtedly some of them were true criminals and would remain so.
That was Rome in Paul’s day.
We don’t know if there was an arrangement as we ordinarily think of one.
We don’t know if there was a hearing with a plea being made and then a date set when Paul would be brought before Caesar.
It could have been that there was next to nothing for 24 months.
All we know for sure is what we are told in verse 30:
And we know that Paul was before Nero at least twice.
During those two years, Paul received all that came unto him.
The third day after his arrival, he sent word to the leadership of the local synagogue that he respectfully requested the honour of their presence.
I say that he “respectfully requested” their visit, because he showed great respect when they did visit – at least, during their first visit.
He endeavored to be as friendly and conciliatory as possible.
He pointed out that he had been sent to Rome because the Jews provoked it, but that he wasn’t angry.
In fact, Paul fully understood why what was done, was done.
Of course they had heard about the sect of the Nazarenes, but they were more curious than antagonistic.
And that opened the door for a later meeting when Paul would explain why it was that he was a Christian.
So Paul met with the unsaved Jews, but we can’t be sure how many he met or how often he met with them.
And you can be sure that many of the true saints of God took advantage of Paul’s presence in their city.
There were undoubtedly some Christians who came to visit him as often as they could.
Paul was like a temporary seminary right there in their midst, and I’m sure that he didn’t mind a single minute that he was with those people.
He had a special love for young Christians, as we see in his relationship with Timothy, Titus, Aristarchus and others.
And of course, I don’t think that he turned away any of the grey-haired saints either.
I think that judging from this passage we can assume that there were public classes and lectures, if not actual church services there at the house of Paul.
And among those who came to Paul were plenty of curious Gentiles.
As we said on Sunday, there were probably hundreds of Roman soldiers and guards.
And as we shall see in a minute there were many people from the palace who became children of God.
I wonder how Onesimus came into the presence of the Apostle.
The house of Paul was like Grand Central Station, and he probably enjoyed every opportunity to speak to people about his Lord.
Scholars debate about that point, but I’m going to stick with the accepted comments.
It could be that Hebrews, for example, was written by Paul while he was in Rome, but we aren’t told about the author or the location.
And there are things which suggest that Galatians was written shortly after Acts 15, but then there is the note which says that it was written from Rome.
For the rest of this message let’s just read some of the historical and biographical notes from those letters.
We do so, because they shed some light upon what was going on in Paul’s life while at Rome.
The exception to that is Galatians.
It only closes with a note about being written from Rome, but it doesn’t say anything about what was going on in Rome or who carried the letter to Galatia.
Then we come to Ephesians 6:17-24:
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. {To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.}”
The word “bonds” in verse 20 is found eleven times in Greek and ten times it is translated “chains.”
Philippians 4:13-23:
“Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. {To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.}”
The church in Philippi was one the congregations which helped to support Paul financially.
Apparently Epaphroditus was the man who brought him those funds on this occasion.
“All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. {Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.}
The cities of Ephesus, Colossi, Laodicea and Hierapolos were not far apart, and so we aren’t surprised that Tychicus carried several letters and that these letters were shared between the churches.
Onesimus, was a run-away slave who went to Rome from Colossi.
II Timothy 4:9-22:
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, & bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. {The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.}
This personal letter probably sheds more light on Paul’s incarceration in Rome than any other.
Philemon:
“Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow-labourer, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy & consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest me even thine own self besides.
Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. {Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.}
Somehow the grace of God had saved the run-away slave Onesimus.
But at that time Paul was sending him back to his master as a brother in Christ.
Through these letters, we get a tiny window into the life of Paul for those two years.