Acts Lesson 14: Paul in Rome

Finally, Paul arrived in Rome. He wanted to go to Rome as a preacher, but instead he arrived as a prisoner. Nevertheless, his circumstances gave occasion for the Gospel. The conclusion of Acts focuses on Paul's conference with local Jewish leaders, his preaching to large numbers of Jews, and his confinement in Rome. Since Paul posed no threat to the empire, he enjoyed some measure of freedom (only one guard assigned to him; cf. 28:16). Appropriately, Acts concludes with the proclamation of the Gospel in the greatest empire in the world. The Gospel had spread from Jerusalem to Judea to the uttermost part of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8)!