Paul arrived in Rome under guard and was allowed to live in his own rented home with a soldier. He called the Jewish leaders to meet with him and explained that he had done nothing wrong against Jewish law or customs. Some believed Paul's message about Jesus being the Messiah while others did not. Paul lived in Rome for two years preaching about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. During this time, he wrote letters that became the Prison Epistles of the New Testament.

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2. Paul’s arrival in Rome
Acts 28
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3. Acts 28:16 Andwhen we came to Rome, the centurion
delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard:
but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a
soldier that kept him.
Paul was by no means free, but a rented house with
a soldier to guard him was better than the prison.
He had earned the trust of the Centurion on the
journey.
Love can be given, but trust must be earned.
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4. 17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul
called the chief of the Jews together: and when
they were come together, he said unto them, Men
and brethren, though I have committed nothing
against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet
was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the
hands of the Romans.
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5. 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have
let me go, because there was no cause of death in
me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was
constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had
ought to accuse my nation of.
Paul wanted to stand before Caesar:
Because it was God’s Will that
he witness in Rome
Because he wanted to be set free.
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6. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to
see you, and to speak with you: because that for the
Hope of Israel (Jesus the Messiah) I am bound with
this chain.
Paul didn’t speak of Jesus Christ as the Hope
of the Gentiles, although He is.
But Messiah came to the Jews first.
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7. Romans 1 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to
preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for
it is the Power of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek.
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8. 21 And they said unto him, We neither received
letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of
the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm
of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou
thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that
everywhere it is spoken against.
A sect is a party or group that is considered
contrary to the main group.
They claimed not to have heard any accusations
against Paul personally,
But they had heard plenty against Christians.
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9. 23 Andwhen they had appointed him a day, there
came many to him into his lodging; to whom he
expounded and testified the Kingdom of
God, persuading (trying to persuade) them
concerning Jesus, both out of the law of
Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till
evening.
Paul found plenty of evidence throughout the
Old Testament to prove that Jesus is Messiah.
Some choose to believe the Bible, but
Some choose to believe the wisdom of the world.
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10. 24 Andsome believed the things which were
spoken, and some believed not.
That is always and will always be the case.
Some will believe and some will not believe.
John 15 20 Remember the Word that I said unto
you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they
have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept My Saying, they will keep yours
also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you
for My Name's sake, because they know not Him
that sent Me.
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11. 25 And when they agreed not among
themselves, they departed, after that Paul had
spoken one (more) Word -- Well spake the Holy
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye
shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye
shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this
people is waxed gross (calloused), and their ears
are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed;
lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and understand with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them.
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12. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the Salva-
tion of God (Messiah; Jesus) is sent unto the
Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29 And when he
had said these words, the Jews departed, and had
great reasoning among themselves.
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13. 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired
house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching
those things which concern the Lord Jesus
Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
That’s the way Christians should live and
speak -- with all confidence.
Why? Because we are right.
Jesus is the Son of God, and we are the
children of the Most High God.
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14. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
One question commonly raised pertains to Paul’s
activities after this two-year captivity. What
happened? Perhaps no charges were filed in Rome
and Paul was released. The Jews would know they
had no case against Paul outside of Judea and so
would be reluctant to argue their cause in Rome.
Probably Paul returned to the provinces of
Macedonia, Achaia, and Asia and then turned west
to Spain according to his original plans (Romans
15). Then he ministered once more in the Aegean
area where he was taken prisoner, removed to
Rome, and executed. 14

15. During this two-year period
Paul wrote what are
commonly called his
“Prison Epistles”--
Ephesians, Colossians, Phil
emon, and Philippians.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of
the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
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