SEMESTER 6
490 – Paul’s Trip to Rome and His Death
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY VI LESSON # 90
PAUL’S TRIP TO ROME AND HIS DEATH
Read Acts 26:1
–Acts 28:31
INTRODUCTION:
1. As we view the persecutions and troubles of Paul in the last three chapters of Acts, it appears that we see “Truth upon the scaffold wrong upon the throne.”
2. The reasoning of both accuser and judge is “This preaching must be stopped.
3. What they actually did was to facilitate the perpetuation of his ministry, until Jesus comes.
4. His imprisonment became the occasion for his receiving, by divine inspiration, and giving to us, most of the Pauline Epistles.
I. PAUL’S DEFENSE BEFORE AGRIPPA – (ACTS 26:1-32
)
1. Paul is presented to Agrippa as, “not worthy of death.” (Acts 25:24-27)
2. Paul does not plead his legal right, but claims his message to be in keeping with Scripture. (Acts 26:2-7)
3. He shows the resurrection of Christ to be a proper doctrine. (Acts 26:8)
4. He shows how he had persecuted this doctrine of Jesus Christ. (Acts 26:9-12)
5. He then shows his conversion and subsequent life and ministry. (Acts 26:13-23)
6. Paul appeals to the Old Testament Scripture to justify his conduct. (Acts 26:22-23)
7. Agrippa declares that Paul could be released, except for his previous appeal to Caesar. (Acts 26:28-32)
II. PAUL’S TRIP TO ROME – (ACTS 27:1-28:16)
1. Obviously, God has arranged all this, operating both through and beyond human determination.
2. Paul is delivered to a Centurion, who is kindly disposed toward him. (Acts 27:1-3)
3. God arranges the sailing so as to make the journey long. (Acts 27:4-9)
4. Human logic and education is followed, opposed to divine revelation. (Acts 27:9-13)
5. They intended only to move to the west side of Crete and to winter, but Paul’s counsel was accurate. (Acts 27:13-19)
6. They were launched into an uncontrollable journey which ended in shipwreck. (Acts 27:20-44)
7. God has a great, three month ministry for Paul on the little Island of Melita. (Acts 28:1-10)
8. From Melita a ship takes them to Puteoli via Syracuse and Rhegium. (Acts 28:10-15)
9. After this long but ministerial journey Paul arrives at Rome and at Rome's expense.
III. PAUL’S TIME AND MINISTRY AT ROME
1. In Rome, Paul is allowed private quarters. (Acts 28:16 & 30)
2. Many think he was freed, made another missionary journey, and suffered a second and final imprisonment. (2 Tim. 4:11-17)
3. In any case, his ministry at Rome was fruitful, yielding many New Testament books and significant ministry to the Jews. (Acts 26:17-31)
4. Whether after freedom and another journey or not, Paul was probably placed in a dungeon and ultimately was beheaded at Rome