A Harmony Of The Life Of Paul - Second Roman Captivity And Death (68 A.D.)

<< Previous | Index | Next >>
                    "A HARMONY OF THE LIFE OF PAUL"

               Second Roman Captivity And Death (68 A.D.)

INTRODUCTION

1. We come to the final year of Paul's life, in which...
   a. He experienced a second Roman imprisonment
   b. He gave his life as a martyr for Jesus Christ

2. Very little is revealed in the Scriptures about Paul's second Roman 
   imprisonment and death...
   a. Conybeare supposes that Paul was arrested in Nicopolis, and 
      brought to Rome
   b. Many believe that Nero sought to implicate Christians in the 
      burning of Rome, and the arrest of key leaders (Paul, Peter) was 
      the result

[From Paul's second epistle to Timothy, his last letter on record, we
learn a few things about...]

I. HIS IMPRISONMENT AT ROME

   A. CHARGED AS AN EVIL-DOER...
      1. He suffered trouble as an evildoer - 2Ti 2:8-9
         a. It was because of his preaching the gospel of Christ
         b. No longer was Christianity allowed, it was now an illegal 
            religion
      2. Paul encourages Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of 
         the Lord, nor of Paul as His prisoner - 2Ti 1:8
      -- Evidently this imprisonment was more severe than the first one 
         - cf. Ac 28:30-31

   B. EXPERIENCED LONELINESS...
      1. Many of his old friends were no longer present
         a. Demas had forsaken him - 2Ti 4:10
         b. Crescens had gone to Galatia - 2Ti 4:10
         c. Titus had gone to Dalmatia - 2Ti 4:10
         d. Tychicus had been sent to Ephesus - 2Ti 4:12
         e. Erastus was at Corinth - 2Ti 4:20
         f. Trophimus was left sick at Miletus - 2Ti 4:20
      2. There were some brethren with him, who sent greetings to 
         Timothy - 2Ti 4:21
      -- But of his old companions, only Luke was with him, and he 
         longed for Timothy and Mark to come quickly - 2Ti 4:11

   C. SUFFERED MORE THAN ONE TRIAL...
      1. Apparently Paul had already experienced one trial - 2Ti 4:
         14-16
         a. In which Alexander the coppersmith had done Paul much harm
         b. In which no one else stood with Paul, but forsook him
      2. Yet Paul had escaped death, though not imprisonment - 2Ti 4:
         17-18
         a. The Lord had stood with Paul, and he was delivered out of 
            the mouth of the lion
         b. Paul was confident the Lord would deliver him (though he
            understood deliverance did not preclude death)

   D. WROTE HIS SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY...
      1. Purpose:  To encourage Timothy to stand strong, preach the 
         Word, endure hardship, commit the Word to others - 2Ti 2:1-3,
         14; 4:1,5
      2. Theme:  Fulfill Your Ministry!
      3. Brief outline:
         a. Exhortations to steadfast service - 2Ti 1:1-2:26
         b. Exhortations to sound doctrine - 2Ti 3:1-4:5
         c. Exhortations to come quickly - 2Ti 4:6-22

[The exhortation to come quickly was likely prompted by...]
      
II. HIS ANTICIPATION OF DEATH

   A. HE EXPECTED TO DIE SOON...
      1. He was ready to be offered (as a sacrifice) - 2Ti 4:6; cf. Php 
         2:17
      2. His departure was at hand - 2Ti 4:6; cf. Php 1:23

   B. HE WAS NOT ASHAMED...
      1. He encouraged Timothy not to be ashamed - 2Ti 1:8-11
      2. He himself was not ashamed, having committed all to the Lord 
         - 2Ti 1:12

   C. HE WAS CONFIDENT...
      1. That he would live with Christ - 2Ti 2:8; cf. Php 1:21-23
      2. That he would receive a crown of righteousness - 2Ti 4:7-8

[The Bible is silent regarding Paul's death.  Based upon tradition
outside the Bible, we may be able to glean some...]

III. DETAILS OF HIS DEATH

   A. THE DATE OF HIS DEATH...
      1. Nero died June, 68 A.D., so Paul was executed before that date
      2. Perhaps in the spring of 68, or in 67 A.D. 

   B. THE LOCATION OF HIS DEATH...
      1. He was executed on the Ostian Road just outside of Rome by a
         military escort (near the present day Basilica of St. Paul)
      2. Perhaps to avoid sympathy which his influence had excited (for 
         he had friends even in the palace - Php 1:13; 4:22), he was 
         executed outside the city

   C. THE NATURE OF HIS DEATH AND BURIAL...
      1. Paul was beheaded, Roman citizenship exempting him from torture
         and crucifixion
      2. According to universal tradition, "weeping friends took up his
         corpse and carried it for burial to those subterranean 
         labyrinths" (Clement Romans. 1.5) 

CONCLUSION

1. The legacy Paul left behind is impressive...
   a. The churches he established throughout the Roman empire
   b. The letters he wrote, numbering about half of the New Testament
   -- Even today, 2000 years later, the influence of Paul's life, 
      labors, and letters continue to be felt around the world

2. Yet, Paul would be the first to give credit to God, as when he wrote:

   "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called
   an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace
   of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I
   labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of
   God which was with me." - 1Co 15:9-10

3. Yes, Paul realized that he was not worthy of the opportunities he had
   to serve God:

   "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was
   given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
   riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the 
   mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God 
   who created all things through Jesus Christ;" - Ep 3:8-9

4. But through Paul, with his life and labors, God demonstrates His
   wonderful grace and mercy:

   "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He
   counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was
   formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I 
   obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the 
   grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which
   are in Christ Jesus.  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all 
   acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of 
   whom I am chief.  However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in
   me first Jesus Christ might show all long-suffering, as a pattern to 
   those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life." - 1 Ti
   1:12-16

May the pattern of Paul's life serve to encourage us to always look to
the Lord for grace and mercy, so that one day we too can say:

   "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
   kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of 
   righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to
   me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved
   His appearing." - 2Ti 4:7-8
<< Previous | Index | Next >>
Home Page
Have A Bible Question? | Want A Free Bible Study Course? | Looking For A Church Near You?
Want To Talk With Someone By Phone? | Want To Discuss The Bible By Email?
Search The Outlines