PAUL'S JOURNEY TO ROME (1)

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) One of Paul's most important journeys was to Rome, but he didn't get there the way he expected. It turned out to be more of a legal journey than a missionary journey because, through a series of legal trials and transactions, Paul was delivered to Rome where his presentation of the gospel would penetrate even into the walls of the emperor's palace. Sometimes when our plans don't work out as we want them to, they work out even better than we expected.

1. Reference: Acts 21:30-34

i) ³⁰ And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. ³¹ Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. (Acts 21:30-34 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, a riot broke out. Seeing the riot, Roman soldiers put Paul into protective custody. Paul asked for a chance to defend himself to the people. His speech was interrupted by the crowd when he told about what God was doing in the lives of Gentiles.

2. Reference: Acts 22:24-25

i) ²⁴ the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. ²⁵ And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:24-25 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) A Roman commander ordered a beating to get a confession from Paul. Paul claimed Roman citizenship and escaped the whip.

3. Reference: Acts 22:30

i) ³⁰ The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them. (Acts 22:30 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) Paul was brought before the Jewish council. Because of his Roman citizenship, he was rescued from the religious leaders who wanted to kill him.

4. Reference: Acts 23:10

i)   ¹⁰ Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. (Acts 23:10 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) The Roman commander put Paul back under protective custody.

5. Reference: Acts 23:21-24

i) ²¹ But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” ²² So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

²³ And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; ²⁴ and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” (Acts 23:21-24 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) Due to a plot to kill Paul, the commander transferred him to Caesarea, which was under Governor Felix's control.

The End ...