It was Paul’s right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar, the highest court in the land. It was not his right to determine when the case would come up on the docket! Paul spent two years in a rental house under Roman guard!
Rome’s penal system did not call for the government to feed or cloth their prisoners. Family and friends took care of these matters unless the government refused them the privilege. If a prisoner had no family or friends or they were refused the privilege of being helped, they would simply die in prison! Paul was a Christian! He had the greatest “family” on earth! Fellow Christians were allowed free access to Paul. No one stopped it (Acts 28:31). They fed him, clothed him, and provided for his physical needs. They probably paid his rent! Where else was he going to get the money? They would come to him to hear the Gospel. They would probably bring their friends and neighbors. No doubt Paul spent a tremendous amount of time preaching the Gospel right from his own living room! Can we see the providence of God in this?
Paul received support and visits from his friends and fellow Christians from all the places he planted churches. They heard that he had been arrested and sent funds to help him. One such congregation was his good friends at Philippi. This is where he baptized Lydia (Acts 16:14-15) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:33) and their families. The Philippian church sent Epaphroditus to Rome. He brought money and other items that Paul would need. Paul decided to write them a “Thank You” letter. We have a copy of it! We call it “Philippians”.
Rome’s penal system did not call for the government to feed or cloth their prisoners. Family and friends took care of these matters unless the government refused them the privilege. If a prisoner had no family or friends or they were refused the privilege of being helped, they would simply die in prison! Paul was a Christian! He had the greatest “family” on earth! Fellow Christians were allowed free access to Paul. No one stopped it (Acts 28:31). They fed him, clothed him, and provided for his physical needs. They probably paid his rent! Where else was he going to get the money? They would come to him to hear the Gospel. They would probably bring their friends and neighbors. No doubt Paul spent a tremendous amount of time preaching the Gospel right from his own living room! Can we see the providence of God in this?
Paul received support and visits from his friends and fellow Christians from all the places he planted churches. They heard that he had been arrested and sent funds to help him. One such congregation was his good friends at Philippi. This is where he baptized Lydia (Acts 16:14-15) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:33) and their families. The Philippian church sent Epaphroditus to Rome. He brought money and other items that Paul would need. Paul decided to write them a “Thank You” letter. We have a copy of it! We call it “Philippians”.