Paul in Rome

“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,” etc. — Acts xxvni. 17-22.

THEKE were strong emotions on both sides when Paul and the Roman Christians met at Appii Eorum. The faith and fervour manifested on his part sprang from another meeting that happened long before, as the fruit springs from seed. Many years before this event, Paul the young was approaching a great Eastern city with a commission of high import, his heart earnest to fulfil it, as

Patd in Rome.

Paul the aged now approached the great capital of the West. Then, too, as on this occasion, the dangling of chains might be heard as the procession marched. Then and there, however, Saul, the chief commissioner, did not wear them; they were borne in his train, and employed at his pleasure. Here, the chains are hanging on his own arms. Then, as now, he was met before he reached the city. Met him then, not Christians, but Christ. Not to embrace as brothers those two met; they met as foes meet on the battle-field. Christ was revealed from heaven the King of Glory, and the apostle of the high priest fell to the ground. The stony heart of the Pharisaic persecutor melted, and took on a new moulding. He became a new creature. The old man was put off, and the new put on.

That meeting with Christ on the way to Damascus was the root of this meeting with Christians on the way to Rome. From the sorrow of the first meeting sprang the joy of the second. Meetings with Christians will be cold and superficial, if we have not so met with Christ. We shall get little cheering from the light of a brother’s countenance, if we have not previously been melted and remoulded by the Light of Life. When Christ is yours, all things are yours; and the fervent love of fellow-disciples is an item in the vast inventory.

There must have been a liberal collection made among the Christians in Rome for the supply of the apostle’s wants, for we learn that he dwelt two whole years in his own hired house. The rent of a house in the capital large enough to receive for conference all the leading Jews in Rome must have amounted to a considerable sum. Those who contributed to pay it would consider it a missionary contribution, and enter it in their books as “lent to the Lord.”

520 The Chitrch in the House.

There must have been a quick, spontaneous liberality in those days among the disciples of Jesus; and Paul, though he lived in poverty, had large resources at command for the work of the kingdom. Witness the sale of property at Jerusalem in the beginning of the gospel. It must have been a broad, deep, rapid stream of holy beneficence that flowed through the city, when it had power enough to float two such heavy hulks of hypocrisy as Ananias and Sapphira. Witness too, at a later date, the expectations of the keen- scented mercenary, Felix, who conferred frequently with Paul the prisoner, in the hope of getting a bribe for setting him free. Felix was well aware of two things: first, that Paul his prisoner had not a penny; but second, that by raising his finger, the missionary could draw on the purses of many substantial citizens for any object which he might have at heart.

It is worthy of remark that Paul at Rome, when near the end of his course, still maintained faithfully his original rule of addressing himself first to the Jews. Let his believing brethren wait awhile; they can afford to bide their time. On their way to the city, it is probable that he made his arrangements in concert with the deputation. He would explain to them his principle and his practice, — first to the seed of Israel. If he had gone first to the Christians, the Jews might have taken offence. He will be all things yet to these men, that he may gain some of them.

When the leading Jews were assembled to hear his explanation, his discourse, as usual, was personal and apologetic. He endeavours at the outset to remove prepossessions which might hinder the reception of his message. First of all, he zealously claims kindred with them. By his appeal to the emperor against the Sanhedrim, they might have been led to suppose that he was dragging the

Paul in Rome. sacred authorities of the chosen nation before the tribunal of a heathen power. With eagerness he clears himself of that charge, and makes it plain that his appeal was taken simply to save his life, when his enemies had plotted to take it away.

The name of Christ borne by the chosen vessel has now been brought to Rome. It had passed from Jerusalem through J udsea and Samaria; and now it had reached those seven hills, which, politically, were the loftiest pinnacle of the earth, and from which it might be carried by the natural channels to the whole circle of subject nations. “Wonderful were the ways of God in reaching this result. The imperial legions must furnish an escort, and the imperial exchequer must pay the passage. Even to the stormy waves of the Mediterranean the word of the Lord had come in power; — Touch not my prophet, and do mine anointed no harm. Destroy not this frail vessel, for it bears a blessing to the western world.

Those who publish maps to illustrate the propagation of the gospel in early times, mark Paul’s route by a red line. In that line there are many bendings and backward turns. It is drawn zig-zag, as lightning from the clouds is represented; but with all its turns, it ever turns aright, — westward ever, to bear the gospel to the nations of the future. In a similar way the course of the electric wire from continent to continent across the ocean is sometimes designated on the map. If the course of the line lately laid between France and America were so represented on the chart, it would be like the line that marks Paul’s voyage. There was a halt in mid-ocean: the cable suddenly became dumb, and could not tell the cause of its own silence. Communication with the shore ceased for several days; and when it was resumed we learned the cause of the interruption. A gale sprang up; the operators feared lest in the heavy sea the cable should part. They cut and buoyed it. Then they trimmed the ship to ride out the storm. When the storm was over, they sought and found the buoy; caught the cable, spliced it, and went on as before. Suppose for a moment that the populations of the American continent had all previously been entirely destitute of the gospel, and that this submerged conductor was the only channel by which they could hope to receive it: in that case a thrilling interest would attach to the incident, — to the storm and the severance of the wire, and the skill of the operators in healing the breach. That spot was the Malta of the modern mission voyage.

The line that the ship of Adramyttium made on the eastern waters of the Mediterranean, and that which the Castor and Pollux made from Malta to Puteoli, faded away a few yards behind the keels; but a line unseen was paid out in that voyage through which throbbed life from the dead to the western world. How much depended on the voyage of one mortal man across those wintry waters! The Lord had need of him, and therefore the Euroclydon could not swallow him up.

“And when 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 them concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening,” etc. — Acts xxviii. 23-31.

T a preliminary meeting of the Jewish chiefs, three

±. days after his arrival, Paul anxiously explained that he brought no accusation against his country or his people.