To Rome, with love.
- Christine DiGiacomo
- 5 minutes ago
- 5 min read
At long last, Paul reaches the ancient city of Rome. What a long, strange trip it's been!
At times, Paul must have wondered if he would ever set foot in Rome, but in the midst of the storm on his way to the city of his dreams, the Lord sent an angel to stand beside him, who said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. . . ’1
God assured Paul he would indeed go to Rome, though he stopped short of telling him that he would get to Rome as a prisoner.
Did you notice that the angel told Paul not to be afraid? Why? Because Paul most certainly was afraid! Though he was courageous, committed and confident of his mission and his God, that does not mean he was never afraid or worried; but the thing is, Paul went anyway. We have watched Paul face lying accusers and remain resolute; yes, in spite of how he was feeling, no matter if he had been beaten and imprisoned or if he was tired and hungry, afraid he was going to drown. Paul remained faithful anyway.
Luke writes, "When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans." Then he tells of the false accusations and his treatment at the hands of the Jews...and the Romans, yet, Paul stakes his claim:
"It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”2
Unable to go to the synagogue to preach Jesus upon entering Rome, his usual custom entering a new city, Paul still called the Jews together. And because word was out about the troublemaker, Paul, the Jews were curious about him, so they went and listened to what he had to say. "They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus."3
This was some serious stuff right here - Paul preached from morning til night? Dang.
And the response was mixed: "Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe."4 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!5
Picture Paul, shackled to a Roman guard 24 hours a day . . . he did what he was called to do--share the gospel to those who came to him, and accordingly, the Roman guards, shackled to the apostle for four-hour shifts, who also heard the truth about Jesus the Messiah over and over. Apparently, God had you and me in mind at that time because it was during this time of confinement waiting for his hearing before Nero, Paul penned the letters to the churches he loved : Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon and Philippians - oft called the Prison Epistles.
Go ahead, flip over to the short letters/books of Colossians and Ephesians, even shorter Philemon, and beautiful Philippians, bearing in mind that Paul is shackled to a Roman guard, his words, his teaching is so on point. I chose a random verse from each of the four letters for your consideration:
from Colossians: See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.6
'Wondering, have you been caught up in the lies and emptiness of a world gone mad? We live in a day and age where truth has been coopted--what is good and right has become evil; what is evil, accepted in the name of tolerance.
from Ephesians: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.7
'Wondering - are you doing the good things God planned for you? Are you living life on purpose, with a purpose and for a purpose?
from Philemon: And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 8
Do you live generously? Oh, not just your money, but in the way you see people and love them?
from Philippians: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.9
We cannot let our thoughts run amok, but rather we must feed ours minds with the things that are true and pure, with thoughts that honor God, and at the same time, elevate our thinking.
And in each of these short letters, Paul greets his beloved friends in the faith with, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." So beautiful, so rich, so profound. After all, what more do we need in this life?
Hey, do you suppose we could go back to
"Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe..."
It would seem that Luke is conveying that though some were convinced, they chose not to believe. How familiar this is to me today. While some believe there is merit, there is truth to the person of Jesus Christ, they do not want to change their lives. Following Jesus would mean some things would have to change in the way they live...and most importantly, in who runs the show. People do not want God to interfere with how they want to live, and what they do.
But here's the thing: if people are open and willing to consider the truth,
the proofs for the existence of a Creator God
as well as the historical evidence for the person of Jesus Christ, Son of God,
they will be convinced. And once convinced, more is required.
There is the day, the very hour, the moment when someone says,
->>'Yes, I believe. And I want to know God for myself.
I believe that Jesus is who he said he was, and he died in my place,
so that if I ask him for forgiveness of my sin, he wipes the record clean.
Instead of carrying around the guilt, I am free! Lord, I choose to trust you,
show me how to follow You, Amen!"
Hmmm, I just wonder how many people responded to Paul's teaching...
how many recognized the truth that Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah.
How many, do you think? Like, how many people are in Heaven because of what they learned from Paul?
Huh, wait - how many people will be in Heaven because of you?
No doubt about it, Paul motivates me to be a more impactful woman . . . and no matter what is going on, stay faithful, and do it anyway...
Song: Do it Anyway! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDyEtMpf1-4&list=RDKDyEtMpf1-4&start_radio=1
His life is compelling,
Christine
1 - Acts 27.24
2 - Acts 28.16-17a...20
3 - Acts 28.23
4- Acts 28.30-31
6 - Colossians 2.8
7 - Ephesians 2.10
8 - Philemon verse 6
9 - Philippians 4.8
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