"A HARMONY OF THE LIFE OF PAUL" Second Roman Captivity And Death (68 A.D.) by Mark Copeland

 

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"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...
1. He experienced a second Roman imprisonment
2. 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...
1. Conybeare supposes that Paul was arrested in Nicopolis, and brought to Rome
2. 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...]

1. HIS IMPRISONMENT AT ROME
1. CHARGED AS AN EVIL-DOER...
1. He suffered trouble as an evildoer - 2Ti 2:8-9
1. It was because of his preaching the gospel of Christ
2. 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
2. EXPERIENCED LONELINESS...
1. Many of his old friends were no longer present
1. Demas had forsaken him - 2Ti 4:10
2. Crescens had gone to Galatia - 2Ti 4:10
3. Titus had gone to Dalmatia - 2Ti 4:10
4. Tychicus had been sent to Ephesus - 2Ti 4:12
5. Erastus was at Corinth - 2Ti 4:20
6. 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
3. SUFFERED MORE THAN ONE TRIAL...
1. Apparently Paul had already experienced one trial - 2Ti 4:14-16
1. In which Alexander the coppersmith had done Paul much harm
2. In which no one else stood with Paul, but forsook him
2. Yet Paul had escaped death, though not imprisonment - 2Ti 4:17-18
1. The Lord had stood with Paul, and he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion
2. Paul was confident the Lord would deliver him (though he understood deliverance did not preclude death)
4. 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:
1. Exhortations to steadfast service - 2Ti 1:1-2:26
2. Exhortations to sound doctrine - 2Ti 3:1-4:5
3. Exhortations to come quickly - 2Ti 4:6-22

[The exhortation to come quickly was likely prompted by...]

2. HIS ANTICIPATION OF DEATH
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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...]

3. DETAILS OF HIS DEATH
1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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...
1. The churches he established throughout the Roman empire
2. 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

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2022