But the story didn’t end in Rome. Just as King Agrippa had predicted, Paul was acquitted on all charges and set free.
By reading Paul’s letters to the Churches and letters written by other Church leaders we are able to piece together Paul’s final travels as he established pastors and elders in all the Churches across the Roman Empire.
Paul took Titus to Crete to be the pastor.
Titus 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was so that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
Paul took Timothy to Ephesus to be the pastor.
1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, stay in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer…
Paul traveled to Colosse to visit with Philemon.
Philemon 1:22 Prepare a guest room for me.
Paul went back to Macedonia.
1 Timothy 1:3 I want to Macedonia.
Paul went to Philippi.
Philippians 2:24 I myself will come soon.
About this time Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy and his letter to Titus.
Titus 3:12 I have decided to winter in Nicopolis.
The following Spring Paul went to Spain and Britain.
Romans 15:24 I will go to Spain.
Coming back East Paul stopped in Miletus.
2 Timothy 4:20 I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.
Paul continued on to Troas.
2 Timothy 4:13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus in Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
Paul again visited Corinth.
2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth.
On July 19, 64 A.D. a fire destroyed much of Rome. When Nero, who in all likelihood, started the fire, came under suspicion, he falsely accused the deplorable Christians of insurrection, and began the first great Empire wide persecution of the Church. As part of the cover-up conspiracy Nero had the usual suspects, Peter and Paul, arrested and thrown into Mamertine Prison.
Nero rid himself of the ugly rumor that the fire was due to his orders. To dispel the report he substituted as the guilty persons and inflicted unheard of punishments on those who were called Christians. And their death was aggravated with mockeries, wrapped in the hides of wild beasts, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or fastened to crosses to be set on fire, that when the darkness fell they might be burned to illuminate the night. (Tacitus, “The Annals”, Hackett Publishing, 2004)
Both Peter and Paul were executed on the same day on the Ossian Way, three miles outside of the city of Rome in 64 A.D. Paul by beheading, because he was a Roman citizen, and Peter by crucifixion.
With the deaths of the two pillars of the Church, Peter and Paul, and with the Empire wide persecution of the Christians, the ancient dragon, Satan must have thought that he had achieved a great victory. His jaws had bitten down hard on the Christians to destroy them. But, once again, he was foiled. The damage had been done. Christians were everywhere and they would not be silent. And because Christ was reigning in heaven over the whole of the earth, Christians, dancing in the dragon’s jaws, boldly offered life to all, upsetting the whole world. Acts 17:6
And in another jarring defeat for the ancient dragon, just 250 years after Nero began persecuting Christians, the Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity in 313 A.D. Then, adding salt to the wound, centuries later Mamertine Prison, where Peter and Paul spent their last days on earth, was turned into a Church where God is worshipped and Christ is glorified.
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come. Isaiah 9 & 60
Go to next Chapter.
Return to Acts, Table of Contents.