PAUL'S JOURNEY TO ROME (3)

(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 25:13-14

i) ¹³ And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. ¹⁴ When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix. (Acts 25:13-14 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) Festus discussed Paul's case with Herod Agrippa 11.

2. Reference: Acts 26:1

i) Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself. (Acts 26:1 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) Agrippa and Festus heard Paul speak. Paul again told his story.

3. Reference: Acts 26:24-28

i) ²⁴ Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” ²⁵ But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. ²⁶ For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” (Acts 26:24-28 NKJV)

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

b) What happened

i) Agrippa interrupted with a sarcastic rejection of the gospel.

4. Reference: Acts 26:30-32

i) ³⁰ When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; ³¹ and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” ³² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (Acts 26:30-32 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) Group consensus was that Paul was guilty of nothing and could have been released if he had not appealed to Rome.

5. Reference: Acts 27:1-2

i) And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. ² So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. (Acts 27:1-2 NKJV)

b) What happened

i) Paul left for Rome, courtesy of the Roman Empire.

The End ...