Chapter XXV. - Arrival at Rome.
With the opening of navigation, the centurion and his
prisoners again set out on their journey. An Alexandrian ship, the Castor and
Pollux, had wintered at Melita, on her way to Rome, and in this the travellers
embarked. Though somewhat delayed by contrary winds, the voyage was safely
accomplished, and the ship cast anchor in the beautiful harbour of Puteoli, on
the coast of Italy. {LP 272.1}
There were a few Christians in this place, who entreated the
apostle to remain with them seven days, and the privilege was kindly granted by
the centurion. Since receiving Paul's Epistle to the Romans, the Christians of
Italy had eagerly looked forward to a visit from the apostle. They had little
expected to see him in chains as a prisoner, but his sufferings only endeared
him to them the more. The distance from Puteoli to Rome being but a hundred and
forty miles, and the seaport being in constant communication with the
metropolis, the Roman Christians were informed of Paul's approach, and some of
them started to meet and welcome him. {LP 272.2}
On the eighth day after landing, the centurion and his
prisoners set out for Rome. Julius willingly granted the apostle every favour
which it was in his power to bestow; but he could not change his condition as a
prisoner, or release him from the chain that bound him to his soldier guard. It
was with a heavy heart that Paul went forward to his long-expected visit to the
world's metropolis. How different the
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circumstances from what he had anticipated! How was he,
fettered and stigmatized as a criminal, to proclaim the gospel? His hopes of
winning many souls to the truth at Rome, seemed destined to be disappointed. {LP
272.3}
The travellers reach Appii Forum, forty miles from Rome. As
they make their way through the crowds that throng the great thoroughfare, the
grey-haired old man, chained with a group of hardened-looking criminals,
receives many a glance of scorn, and is made the subject of many a rude, mocking
jest. Not one of all he meets bestows upon him a look of pity or sympathy. He
meekly wears his chain, and silently, slowly pursues his way. {LP 273.1}
Suddenly a cry of joy is heard, and a man springs out from
the passing throng and falls upon the prisoner's neck, embracing him with tears
and rejoicing, as a son would welcome a long-absent father. Again and again is
the scene repeated. With eyes made keen by loving expectation, many discern in
the chained captive the one who spoke to them the words of life at Corinth, at
Philippi, or at Ephesus. {LP 273.2}
The whole company is brought to a stand-still, as
warm-hearted disciples eagerly flock around their father in the gospel. The
soldiers are impatient of delay, yet they have not the heart to interrupt this
happy meeting; for they too have learned to respect and esteem their prisoner.
In that worn, pain-stricken face, the disciples see the image of Christ
reflected. They assure Paul that they have not forgotten him or ceased to love
him; that they are indebted to him for the joyful hope which animates their
lives, and gives them peace toward God. In the ardour of their
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love they would bear him upon their shoulders the whole way
to the city, could they but have the privilege. {LP 273.3}
Few realize the significance of those words of Luke, that
when Paul saw his brethren, "he thanked God, and took courage." The apostle
praised God aloud in the midst of that weeping, sympathizing throng, who were
not ashamed of his bonds. The cloud of sadness that had rested upon his spirit
had been swept away. He felt that his labours had not been in vain. Although his
Christian life had been a succession of trials, sufferings, and disappointments,
he felt in that hour abundantly repaid. He rejoiced that he had been permitted
to preach Christ, to bring the light of eternal life and peace to so many souls
who had been in the grossest darkness, without hope, and without God in the
world. His step is firm, his heart joyful in hope. He will not complain of the
past, or fear for the future. He knows that bonds and afflictions await him; but
he knows too that it has been his life-work to deliver souls from a bondage
infinitely more terrible, and he rejoices in his sufferings for Christ's sake.
{LP 274.1}
At Rome the charge of the centurion Julius ended. Here he
delivered up his prisoners to the captain of the emperor's guard. The good
account which he gave of Paul, however, together with the letter of Festus, the
procurator of Judea, caused the apostle to be favourably regarded by the chief
captain, and instead of being thrown into prison, he was permitted to live in
his own hired house. The trial of having constantly to be chained to a soldier
was continued; but he was at liberty to receive his friends, and to labour for
the advancement of the cause of Christ.
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{LP 274.2}
The Jews who had been banished from Rome some years previous,
had been tacitly permitted to return, so that large numbers were now to be found
there. To these, first of all, Paul determined to present the facts concerning
himself and his work, before his enemies should have opportunity to embitter
them against him. Three days after his arrival at Rome, therefore, he called
together their leading men, and in a simple, direct manner stated the reasons
why he had come to Rome as a prisoner. {LP 275.1}
"Men and brethren," he said, "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, who, when they had examined me, would
have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews
spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught
to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see
you and to speak with you; because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with
this chain." {LP 275.2}
He said nothing of the abuse which he had suffered at the
hands of the Jews, or of their repeated plots to assassinate him. His words were
marked with caution and kindness. He was not seeking to win personal attention
or sympathy, but to defend the truth and to maintain the honour of the gospel.
{LP 275.3}
In reply, his hearers stated that they had received no
charges against him by letters public or private, and that none of the Jews who
had come to Rome had accused him of any crime. They also expressed a strong
desire to hear for themselves the reasons of his faith in Christ.
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"For as concerning this sect," they said, "we know that
everywhere it is spoken against." It was supplanting the religion of their
fathers, and causing disputations and dissensions which they considered
injurious to the people. {LP 275.4}
Since they themselves desired it, Paul bade them set a day
when he could present to them the truths of the gospel. At the time appointed,
many came together, "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." He related his own experience, and
presented arguments from the Old-Testament scriptures with simplicity,
sincerity, and power. Upon some minds, at least, his words made an impression
which would never be effaced. All who were honestly seeking for truth were
convinced, as Paul spoke of what he knew, and testified of what he had seen. {LP
276.1}
He showed that religion does not consist in rites and
ceremonies, creeds and theories. If it did, the natural man could understand it
by investigation, as he understands worldly things. Paul taught that religion is
a practical, saving energy, a principle wholly from God, a personal experience
of God's renewing power upon the soul. {LP 276.2}
He showed how Moses had pointed Israel forward to Christ as
that Prophet whom they were to hear; how all the prophets had testified of him
as God's great remedy for sin, the guiltless One who was to bear the sins of the
guilty. He did not find fault with their observance of forms and ceremonies, but
showed that while they maintained the ritual service with great exactness, they
were rejecting Him who was the antitype of all that system.
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{LP 276.3}
He declared that in his unconverted state he had known Christ
after the flesh, not by personal acquaintance, but by the conceptions which he,
in common with others, cherished concerning his character and work. He had
rejected Jesus of Nazareth as an impostor because he did not fulfil these
expectations. But since Paul's conversion, his views of Christ and his mission
were far more spiritual and exalted than the Jewish conception of the
long-promised Messiah. He asserted that he did not present to them Christ after
the flesh. Herod had seen Christ in the days of his humanity; Annas had seen
him; Pilate and the chief priests and rulers had seen him; the Roman soldiers
had seen him. But these had not seen him with an eye of faith, and discerned him
spiritually as the glorified Redeemer. To apprehend Christ by faith, to have a
spiritual knowledge of him, was more to be desired than a personal acquaintance
with him as he appeared on earth. The communion with Christ which Paul now
enjoyed, was more intimate and more enduring than a mere earthly and human
companionship. {LP 277.1}
Some of Paul's hearers eagerly received the truth, but others
stubbornly refused to be convinced. The testimony of the Scriptures was
presented before them by one who was their equal in learning and their superior
in mental power, and who had the special illumination of the Holy Spirit. They
could not refute his arguments, but refused to accept his conclusions. The
prophecies which the rabbis themselves applied to Christ were a great annoyance
to these opposing Jews; for the apostle showed that the fulfilment of these very
prophecies required them to accept of Christ. His humble entry into
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Jerusalem, his rejection by his own people, the treachery of
Judas, the paltry sum paid for his betrayal, his death as a malefactor, even the
bitter, stupefying draughts offered him in his dying agony, the lots cast upon
his garments, his victory over death and the grave by the resurrection on the
third day, his final exaltation on the right hand of God,--all these were in
direct fulfilment of the words of the prophets. But the more conclusive the
arguments presented, the more determined were the Jews in their opposition.
Frenzied with malice, they reiterated their assertions that Jesus of Nazareth
was a deceiver. {LP 277.2}
Further argument was useless. Paul closed with a solemn
address, in which he applied to them the words of Isaiah, before quoted by
Christ himself: "Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our
fathers, saying, Go unto this people and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall
not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive; for the heart of this
people is waxed gross, 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."
{LP 278.1}
Paul's words had not been in vain. Some fully accepted Jesus
as the world's Redeemer, and, despite the opposition of their former brethren,
became earnest advocates of the truth. {LP 278.2}
The people of God living near the close of time should learn
a lesson from this experience of Paul's. We should not be disheartened because
those who have no love for truth refuse to be convinced by the clearest
evidence. We need not flatter ourselves that the formal and world-loving
churches of this age are more ready to
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receive the teachings of God's word than were those of ages
past. Paul's worst enemies were among the Jews, who made the highest claims to
godliness. It was to this class that Christ said, "Ye know not the Scriptures,
neither the power of God." The most bitter opposers of truth today are found
among those who profess to be its defenders. {LP 278.3}
God has made his people the depositories of his law. They
must uphold the claims of that down-trodden law against the opposition of
ministers of the gospel, against men of learning, position, and authority. The
evidence of its binding claims cannot be overthrown; yet its enemies will come
again and again to the battle, urging the same arguments, every time refuted,
and as often renewed. {LP 279.1}
Paul was led and taught by the Holy Spirit; but,
notwithstanding this, those who were not thus taught were filled with jealousy
and malice when they saw him advocating truths which they had not sanctioned.
They were determined that he should move no faster than they. Had they, like the
noble Bereans, searched the Scriptures with a humble, teachable spirit, they
would have learned the truth as Paul preached it; but they studied only to find
something to sustain themselves and condemn him. {LP 279.2}
The truth always involves a cross. Those who will not
believe, oppose and deride those who do believe. The fact that its presentation
creates a storm of opposition, is no evidence against the truth. The prophets
and apostles imperilled their lives because they would conscientiously obey God.
And our Saviour declares that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution." This is the Christian's legacy. {LP 279.3}