30. The Road to Rome
Anyone who has read about the ancient Roman Empire knows that Roman roads were well-constructed and famously straight. But after the apostle Paul's arrest in the Temple at Jerusalem (Acts 21:33) and his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:12), his "road" to Rome was anything but smooth and straight. It is interesting that Paul going to Rome was clearly according to God's plan and will (Acts 27:24), but many things conspired to stop him or even to destroy him en route.
Beginning with the uproar that erupted in the Jerusalem Temple against Paul, nearly leading to his death (Acts 21:27-32), we find a string of human plots and natural disasters that successively threatened the apostle's life. He was almost "torn to pieces" by the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:10), and then narrowly escaped several plots to kill him (Acts 23:12, 25:3). When he finally got to the sea-leg of the journey to Rome, he survived both storm and shipwreck, as well as near death at the hands of the soldiers (Acts 27:42) and deadly snake bite (Acts 28:3).
Acts openly reports all these near-death experiences and the problems that beset the journey to Rome, but Luke's careful historical account also records Paul's providential rescue from the various dangers and near catastrophes. Not only was he helped to survive the various pitfalls along the way, but Luke also makes it clear that Paul was given favor in the eyes of those who had him in their custody at each stage of his journey so that he could repeatedly preach the Gospel to different levels of authority: first to the Jewish people (Acts 21:31), then the Council of the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:9), then the governor Festus (Acts 25:1-12), and King Herod Agrippa (Acts 25:13-27) before, eventually it seems, Caesar himself.
Specifically, Luke shows that Paul was shown repeated kindnesses by the Roman officers who held him in their custody. For example, the garrison commander in Jerusalem protected him, and the chief captain, Claudius Lysias, wrote a letter in Paul's favor (Acts 23:25-30). Paul was also treated kindly at sea by the centurion Julius, who even saved his life (Acts 27:3, 43). As we will see, once at Rome, although he was a prisoner being held for trial, Paul was given a great deal of personal liberty and the opportunity to preach the Gospel by the authorities there (Acts 28:30-31).
But we should not miss an important detail of the last leg of Paul's journey to Rome. Luke tells us: "The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged" (Acts 28:15). These brethren travelled some 30 and 40 miles respectively to meet Paul and welcome him, and the effect on Paul was clearly to be greatly encouraged. He arrived in Rome a prisoner, but not without a lot of protection, favor and encouragement along the way.
On the road we travel through life, we can learn a lesson from Luke's careful recording and become observant historians of the facts of our own lives. It is easy enough to see the sicknesses, accidents and problems that beset us along the way, but like Luke, we need to also recognize and remember the protection, favor and encouragement that we receive as we move toward our destination.