Paul’s Message In Rome Series

Background to Paul’s message in Rome

After his third missionary Journey Paul went to Jerusalem. There he was arrested at the Temple and falsely accused of bringing Trophimus a gentile into the temple (Acts 21:29). He was sent to Caesarea because of the plot to kill him if he was taken to Jerusalem. In Caesarea Paul stood before Governor Felix and was in prison there for two years until the end of Felix term and the installation of a new Governor Festus.

When he was before Festus Paul appealed to Caesar to keep from being killed. Paul also stood before King Agrippa and then was sent on to Rome. An angel told Paul “You will stand before Caesar yet.”

Paul was sent as a prisoner along with 276 prisoners total to sail for Rome. Along the way Paul was shipwrecked for three months on the island of Malta.

When Paul finally got to Rome, he was able to live by himself with a soldier to guard him. Three days later Paul called together the Jewish leaders in Rome and addressed them. When Paul spoke to the Jews not only was a Roman soldier guarding him, but Paul was wearing a prisoner’s chain.

Paul’s message in Rome (part 1)

Just three days after he arrived in Rome, he called the Jews to his home where the soldier was guarding him. There he gave a message to the Jews. Paul normally would go to the Synagogue first, but in this case, he called the Synagogue leaders and members to his home.

Paul gave the Jewish leaders of Rome the background of how and why he was in prison. He addressed the Jews as his brothers and explained to them that he did nothing against the Jewish people or the customs of their ancestors. He explained that he was arrested and handed over to the Romans. He was found not guilty of any crime deserving death and they wanted to release Paul. The Jews objected so he made his appeal to Caesar.

He told them that in Jerusalem he did not bring any charges before the Romans against those Jews who falsely accused him. That is the reason that he wanted to talk with the Jewish leaders of Rome. He told the Jews that he was in chains because of the hope of Israel. There is a lot behind this phrase, “the hope of Israel”. When they return in larger numbers and he speaks to them again he will unpack this from morning to evening.

Results of Paul’s message in Rome (part 1)

There does not seem to be the strong reaction to Paul when the Jewish leaders met with him, as compared to when he spoke before the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem. They listened to Paul and explained that they had not received any letters from Judea regarding Paul. What they were familiar with was Christianity which the Jewish leaders who came to visit Paul called “this sect”.

Paul’s message (part 2)

The second part of Paul’s message is just a few verses, but we find out it was about a ten-hour message to persuade them about Jesus. This time they returned to hear Paul in his house in large numbers. He went through the whole of the scriptures. He was telling them about the kingdom of God from the law of Moses and the prophets from morning to evening.

When we read the law of Moses and the prophets that we are talking about all the books of Moses. Paul would have explained clearly about the original sin to the call of Abraham. Most likely what Paul said was much of what he had already written in the book of Romans relating the Old Testament to Christ, the Jews, and the Law.

Those who Paul was speaking to already believed in all the books of Moses and the Prophets. They also had an expectation of the coming Messiah. Even the disciples that Jesus called to himself had a different idea of what the Messiah would be.

They expected an earthly ruler like King David who would be the leader of a powerful kingdom. Paul explained to them from morning to evening what the kingdom of God really is. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

Paul tried to persuade them about Jesus. Even before King Agrippa Paul tried to persuade the King to become a Christian (Acts 26:28). He explained everything about Jesus Christ to the large group of Jews from morning till evening.

Results of Paul’s message (part 2)

Some of these Jewish leaders were convinced that Paul was right. He convinced them that Jesus is the Messiah the hope of Israel. But not all were convinced, and they disagreed among themselves. When Paul made his final statement, they began to leave.