PAUL'S LAST MISSIONARY JOURNEY

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. 63 A.D.

a) In the Spring of the year in Rome the apostle Paul is acquitted of the charges against him and is set free. He sails from Rome to the island of Crete in order to meet with Titus (Titus 1:5). He then leaves Titus in Crete and sails to Nicopolis (Titus 1;5, 3:12). From Nicopolis he writes the New Testament books of 1Timothy and Titus.

2. 63 - 67 A.D.

a) Paul continues his mission of spreading the gospel by traveling to Spain. In the winter of 57 A.D. He writes to the church at Rome regarding his planned travel to this western part of the empire.

i) 22. For this reason also, I have been hindered many times from coming to you. 23. But now, there being no place in these regions that has not heard the gospel, and having a great desire to come to you for many years, 24. Whenever I may go to Spain, I will come to you because I hope to see you while passing through Rome, and from there to be sent forward by you after I have enjoyed your company for a while.

ii) 25. But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints 26. Because those in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a certain contribution for the poor saints who are in Jerusalem. 27. Now, they took pleasure in doing this, and their debtors they are because if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they ought in turn to minister to them even in physical things. 28. Therefore, when I have finished this task, and have safely delivered into their hands the fruit that was collected, I will set off toward Spain and will come to you. (Romans 15)

b) There is also evidence, though not conclusive, that Paul also preached the gospel in Britain (Britannia).

3. Emblem Of An Empire

a) The emblem of the Roman Empire was a red banner with the letters S-P-Q-R in gold letters. The letters were surrounded by a gold wreath hung on a military standard topped by a Roman eagle or an image of the goddess Victoria made of silver or bronze.

b) The letters SPQR stood for 'Senatus Populusque Romanus' which means "The Senate and People of Rome."

4. 67 A.D.

a) Paul is back in a prison in Rome. While prisoner he writes the book of 2Timothy, which will be his last.

5. 68 A.D.

a) Paul is beheading, under Roman Emperor Nero, around May or June. His death occurs just before Nero's suicide on June 9, 68 A.D. in Greece. He is about 66 years old.

b) Nero is the first emperor of the Roman Empire to actively persecute and kill Christians. Rome will carry out at least TEN major efforts to exterminate Christians and expunge Christianity from the empire. The persecutions first start under Nero in 67 A.D. and continue until 313.

c) Paul's impact on Christianity will be ENORMOUS. During his ministry he wrote FOURTEEN books of the Bible and carried out no less than five missionary journeys. He paid a price, however, for his strong devotion to God and the truth by spending a total of FIVE of his ministry years in prison. He remained faithful to the very end of his life.

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