Bound for Rome

Paul’s journey to Rome…

was met with many difficulties…

He travelled as a prisoner…bound in chains.

He suffered perils at sea…and shipwreck.

He was stranded on an island…with Barbarians.

And bitten by a deadly viper...

And yet, he continued on…

Preaching. Healing. Overcoming.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:  Acts 19:11

And so he sailed on…

ever fulfilling what God paced before him…

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

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: Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.  

Acts 28:11-14

Upon their arrival in Rome…

Paul was given some liberty…

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.   Acts 28:16

And after three days…

he 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.

Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

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.

Acts 28:17-20

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. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.   Acts 28:21-22

And so he taught them…

from morning till evening…

expounding the Kingdom of God…

and persuading them of Christ.

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.

And some believed the things which were spoken,

and some believed not.

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,

Saying, Go unto this people, and say…

Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;

and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

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.

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.   Acts 28:23-30

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.   Acts 28:31

Steadfast. Valiant. Unwavering. Fixed.

Paul labored  among them…

with one goal in mind…

In his own words…

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds;

but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things

for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation

which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  

2 Timothy 2:9-10

What are you laboring for?

Bonds and Afflictions in Jerusalem!

On more than one occasion…

the Holy Spirit testified…

                                that great trials awaited Paul in Jerusalem.

And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.  Acts 21:10-11

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.  Acts 20:22-23

Nevertheless…

Paul set his course for Jerusalem…

                                                                                and set his heart…

                                                                                                                firmly upon Jesus Christ!

And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.  Acts 21:12-13

Intrepid. Courageous. Valiant.

Paul enters Jerusalem…

And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.  Acts 21:17

And testified to the brethren there…

                                                                of the mighty acts of God…

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord…  Acts 21:19-20

Within a week…

great opposition arose against Paul…

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.  Acts 21:27-28

(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)  Acts 21:29

Chaos erupted…

And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.  Acts 21:30

The entire city was in an uproar…

the unfolding of prophecy had begun.

Paul was beaten…

And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.  Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.  Acts 21:31-32

and bound…

Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.  Acts 21:33

The crowd became violent…

And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.  Acts 21:34-35

For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

 Acts 21:36

Even so…

Paul desired to testify…

And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? …But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.  Acts 21:37, 39

And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,  Acts 21:40

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence:  Acts 22:1-2

of the transforming power of the Living God!

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.  Acts 22:3-5

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.  Acts 22:6-8

And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. Acts 22:11

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.  Acts 22:12-15

And they gave him audience unto this word…

and then lifted up their voices, and said…

Away with such a fellow from the earth:

for it is not fit that he should live!

Unreasonable. Irrational. Fierce.

They refused to receive his testimony…

And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.  Acts 22:22-24

Steadfastly, Paul spoke…

with great wisdom…

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.  Acts 22:25-26

For the time being…

Paul was spared a scourging…

Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.  Acts 22:27-29

Against great opposition, Paul’s bold testimony,

stands as a beacon of light and truth.

Paul was a brightly burning light.

Are you?

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 Matthew 5:14-16