Paul's First Imprisonment in Rome (3 agos 57 anni – 7 gen 62 anni)

Descrizione:

Acts 21-28

Paul was warned ahead of his arrival in Jerusalem about plots to have him imprisoned, yet he continued on toward Jerusalem with Luke and Trophimus. After seeing Paul with Trophimus in Jerusalem, the Jews there assumed Paul had brought Trophimus, an uncircumcised Ephesian, into the Temple. They also accused him of teaching against them. None of this was true, but, nonetheless, the people rioted and tried to kill Paul. Paul was quickly arrested by the Romans and put carried off to jail. (The Romans believed that Paul was an Egyptian revolutionary who had led a group of assassins into the desert.)

Paul was allowed by the Roman commander to speak to the riotous crowds, telling them of how Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. The crowd responded by shouting for Paul’s death. The commander sent Paul to the barracks with orders that he be flogged and interrogated. Paul spared himself a beating by bringing the fact of his Roman citizenship to the attention of a centurion (it was illegal to bind and flog a Roman citizen without first having been tried and found guilty). Alarmed, and still unsure why the Jews were accusing Paul, the commander decided to send Paul to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish governing body.

The next day, Paul made his defence before the Sanhedrin, saying he was on trial for his hope in the resurrection of the dead (namely, the resurrection of Christ). The ensuing dispute within the Sanhedrin (between the Pharisees and Sadducees) became so violent that the commander ordered Paul to be carried back (literally!) to the barracks for his own safety.

While imprisoned in Jerusalem, some of the Jews conspired to assassinate Paul, but the plot was discovered by Paul’s nephew, who warned the commander. Paul was then taken by night under heavy guard to the prison in Caesarea.

While in Caesarea, Paul stood trial before the governor Felix, but Felix kept Paul in prison for two more years, even he was succeeded by Porcius Festus (around AD 59) hoping Paul would offer him a bribe and to keep the Jews happy.

Jewish leaders from Jerusalem asked Festus to have Paul transferred back to Jerusalem for a trial (they actually wanted to kill him), but Festus told them to come to Caesarea instead. Another trial followed, but none of the charges against Paul stuck. Festus, looking for favor with the Jews, asked if Paul would go to Jerusalem to stand trial there, but Paul refused, and asked for a trial before Caesar in Rome.

Before Paul was sent to Rome, Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice arrived in Caesarea. Festus asked for Agrippa’s advice, and Paul stood before Agrippa, but no verdict was reached. Because Paul had appealed to Caesar, he was then sent on to Rome to await trial (around AD 60).

Leaving Caesarea, Paul, accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus (and Timothy?), sets sail for Sidon under a centurion named Julius. While in Sidon, Julius allowed Paul to visit some of his friends there before leaving. They could not find safe harbor quickly due to the strong winds, and they sailed past the island of Cyprus and landed in Myra.

While at the port of Myra, Julius secures passage on an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy. They set sail, but again come across strong winds that prevent them from smooth sailing, forcing them to stop in Cnidus. Instead of waiting there for a fair wind, they sail south toward the island of Crete, landing in Fair Havens.

While in Fair Havens, the crew intend to wait for fair winds. They feel pressured to finish the journey to Rome quickly, but also know that winter is near. Paul warns them of impending disaster if they continue, but they don't listen. They decide to sail for Phoenix, where the ship will be safe for the winter.

As soon as they hit open water, strong winds drive the ship away from Crete into the Adriatic (and area of the Mediterranean Sea). For two weeks, the ship and its crew are at the mercy of the storm. The sailors put ropes around the ship's hull to keep it from coming apart, and begin tossing cargo, tackle, and grain overboard. During this time, Paul recieves a vision from an angel; "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you." Eventually, the ship hits a sandbar off the coast of Malta; all 276 people aboard the ship make to to shore safely.

While in Malta, the crew are well-recieved by the islanders. Paul is bitten by a poisonous viper, but when he suffers no ill effects, they think he is a god. Julius, Paul, Luke, and the others are invited by the chief official, Publius, to say with him. Paul heals Publius' father, and spends his time preaching and healing those on the island. After three days, they depart and sail for Syracuse, then Rhegium, and then Puteoli. After a week's stay with friends, Julius brings Paul (and Luke and Aristarchus) along the Appian Way towards Rome, stopping in Three Taverns along the way, where many Christians come to visit him.

Finally, the party arrives in Rome. Paul is placed under house arrest in Rome (with Aristarchus and Epaphras - see Colossians 4:10 & Philemon 23); he lived by himself while a soldier guarded him. He remained under house arrest for two years, preaching and writing letters. He preached to the Jews and Gentiles, including the guards and members of Caesar's household (see Philippians 1:13 & 4:22).

While imprisoned in Rome, Paul writes a number of letters:
a. He writes a letter to the church in Ephesus, which he likely sends with Tychicus (see Ephesians 6:21-22).
b. Paul also writes a letter, with the help of Timothy, to the church in Philippi, which he sent along with Epaphroditus (after he is healed of his illness) (see Philippians 2:25-30 & 4:18).
c. Paul later on writes a letter with Timothy to the church in Colossae, and sends it with Tychicus and Onesimus (see Colossians 4:7-9). d. Paul and Timothy also write a letter on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon, a leader in the church at Colossae (and Apphia and Archippus); the letter is sent back with Onesimus (see Philemon 12).
e. It is argued that Paul also wrote a letter to the church in Laodicea during this time (see Colossians 4:16), though it has since been lost.

Paul, while under house arrest, is visited/accompanied by many followers:
a. Aristarchus, who was imprisoned with Paul
b. Timothy, who was sent to Philippi (see Philippians 2:19-24)
c. John Mark (a.k.a 'Marcus'), the cousin of Barnabas, who was later sent to Colossae (see Colossians 4:10)
d. Luke, the doctor
e. Demas, who would later desert Paul and go to Thessalonica (see 2 Timothy 4:10)
f. Tychicus, who is sent to Ephesus and later to Colossae (see Ephesians 6:21-22 & Colossians 4:7-8)
g. Onesimus, a slave who fled from Philemon in Colossae to see Paul, but is later sent back to Philemon (see Colossians 4:9 & Philemon 8-16)
h. Epaphras, the founder of the Colossian church who was imprisoned with Paul (see Colossians 1:6-7 & Philemon 23)
i. Jesus (a.k.a 'Justus')

Paul appeared before Nero some time during his house arrest in Rome, and was released from this imprisonment around AD 62.

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