Paul Goes To Rome

When the Jews made a new plot to kill Paul,
And Festus seemed inclined to let it be,
Paul “appealed to Ceasar”, a legal call,
That his case the Emperor had to see!
He sailed for Rome and finally got there,
Surviving shipwreck and deadly snake-bite;
He kept on preaching Jesus ev’rywhere;
Jews and Gentiles both were seeing the light!
He became a prisoner of Nero,
Converting many in Rome’s first household;
Paul served till to his Savior he did go;
None other was ever so brave or bold!
He and thousands were martyred for The Way;
How great the price did early Christians pay!

The events in this poem can be read in the Book of Acts, Chapters 25-28. Paul, a Roman citizen, appealed his case to the Roman emperor in order to prevent the new governor Festus from turning him over to the Jews to be taken to Jerusalem and bushwhacked en route. They hated him so because he once was one of them trying to destroy The Way, but miraculously was converted by Jesus; he must be given credit for wrenching Christianity away from Judaism. It is doubtful if the original apostles would have understood clearly the grace of God as being the single force for salvation and been able to see the Mosaic Law as only the forerunner. Paul, however, grasped it, and he was strong enough to keep the trappings of works of the law out of Christianity. He was able to unlock the Jewish grip on Yahweh and make Him available to every person in the world. Christianity flourished and Judaism shriveled; when Christ returns, He will pour out grace on the small remnant of Jews clinging to a useless hope (see Zechariah 12:10-14), and they will mourn their rejection of Jesus.

Paul’s adventurous trip to Rome took place in 59-60 A. D. His ship was wrecked near Malta, but, because of Paul, all 276 persons aboard were saved. Paul was bitten by a poisonous viper; the natives were incredulous when he showed no ill effects. Of course, they did not know that God had determined that Paul would go to Rome to preach the gospel. While he spent three months on the island, he told them about Jesus and His resurrection. Many souls were saved; also, by the power of the Holy Spiit, Paul healed all the sick and handicapped persons on Malta. The islanders at first thought he was a god, but he made clear to them that he was only a man, one indwelled and assisted by God the Holy Spirit.

Christian brothers in Rome had heard of Paul’s coming, and they met him outside the city. He was happy to see them. He was allowed by Emperor Nero to live in his own home for two years, with a guard. Nero did not know Paul was a Christian. When the emperor learned that Paul was preaching Jesus all over Rome, he put him in a Roman jail near the Coliseum. Nero was very cruel to believers, and many thousands were killed for not recanting their belief in Christ Jesus. While in jail for two more years, Paul witnessed to members of the royal household, and some of them believed. His health was declining, and he had an amanuensis to write letters to the churches. Several of his missionary friends were near him, and they provided for his needs and kept him company. He was beheaded on Nero’s order in 64 A. D. He is buried at the spot of his death; today his tomb is in St. Paul’s Basilica, about 2 miles from the Vatican. When a new Pope is installed, on the next day he and all the officials walk the 2 miles to St. Paul’s Basilica, in honor of Paul.

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans
10:9)