Primary Scriptures: Acts 21-28
Story Summary: Paul’s Trip to Jerusalem, Trial, Rome
Location: Roman Empire; Jerusalem, Caesarea, Malta
Time: AD 30 Jesus crucified and resurrected; Pentecost; Holy Spirit arrives AD 46 First Missionary Journey starts AD 48 – 51 Second Missionary Journey AD 52-57 Third Missionary Journey AD 57-59 Paul arrested in Jerusalem; Paul imprisoned in Caesarea AD 59-62 Paul sent to Rome and imprisoned for two years
In his infinite wisdom, God had a plan in mind for Paul that no human could have envisioned. When Jesus first called Paul, he said Paul would proclaim the name of Jesus to the Gentiles and their kings. It was now time for Paul to fulfill that prophecy.
By the time of his final trip to Jerusalem, Paul had been a Christian for about twenty-five years. Even after that long period away from practicing Judaism, he still qualified to go into the Temple area and follow certain Jewish rituals. Apparently, he never gave up his desire to preach to the Jews about Jesus.
After a clash with the Jews, Paul was imprisoned by the Romans in Jerusalem, then transferred to Caesarea. He was kept in Caesarea for about two years before he was sent to Rome, a trip full of adventure and danger.
Paul was under arrest in Rome for about another two years. The Bible never says when Paul wrote his letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, but while some scholars believe Paul may have written one or more or those while imprisoned in Caesarea, others believe he wrote them in Rome.
Acts ends rather abruptly. When you read the last two verses of the book, pay attention to whether you perceive Paul was still in jail or if he had been released. Try to imagine why Luke ended Acts so abruptly when he had not been abrupt throughout the rest of the book.
Eyewitness Bible Series
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