The+Death+of+Paul

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=The Death of Paul=

The subject of the death of Paul has no solid account mentioned in history or the Bible; tradition says that he was beheaded in Rome around 60 A.D. during the reign of Nero. The last mentioned of Paul in the book of Acts is the last chapter when we leave Paul in confinement sentenced to two years in Rome (Acts 28:30). After his release from the Roman prison, Paul was able to continue his ministry in the Mediterranean world. The evidence for Paul’s release after two years of imprisonment is strong: “The amicable attitude of the Roman government in Acts favors it, the Prison Epistles expect it, the Pastoral Epistles demand it, and tradition asserts it”[|[1]]. Most of Paul’s life after Acts 28 is a mystery except for the few clues left in his Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus). It is possible that Paul traveled to Philemon’s house based on Philemon 22 and his request for lodging to be prepared.

Considering Paul’s Roman citizenship, he was most likely beheaded by Nero in the mid-sixties. His martyrdom is set by Eusebius in the thirteenth year of Nero; Jerome sets it in 68 A.D.; it is likely that it was in the spring acknowledging that he hoped Timothy could join him before winter[|[2]]. What information we do know about the death of Paul is the location of the last years of his life—Rome. Although the exact house he was chained to a Roman guard in is not known, Paul doubtless saw the palaces of the Caesars on the Palatine Hill, the Forum, the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and other sites[|[3]]. What is comforting to see is that all these idolatrous sites that gave insight into the heart of the surrounding community were witnessed by Paul and Acts 28:30-31 tells that for two years Paul welcomed all into his house to share the gospel boldly and without hindrance. The location of Rome as the city of Paul’s death is highly significant: “His death in Rome linked him in the church’s memory with Peter—the common experience of the martyrdom of the apostle to the uncircumcision and the apostle to the circumcision in the same city served as a symbol of the unity of faith”[|[4]]. The testament Paul was to the gospel is powerful and points to the transforming power of the gospel that can take an enemy of God’s people and melt his heart to fight for God’s truth. The impression for the gospel Paul left behind is great: “Paul was the great enemy for the law and the great spokesman for the gospel”[|[5]].

[|[1]] Tenney, Merrill C. //The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary.// Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1967; p. 631. [|[2]] Laney, J. Carl. //Concise Bible Atlas.// Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988; p.242. [|[3]] Pfeiffer, Charles F. //Baker's Bible Atlas.// Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1964; p. 230. [|[4]] Ferguson, Everett. //Church History: From Christ to Pre-Reformation.// Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984; p. 38. [|[5]] Shelley, Bruce L. //Church History in Plain Language.// Dallas : Word Publishing, 1995; p. 63.

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