And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
Paul dwelt two whole years at Rome as a prisoner because his Jewish accusers delayed appearing before the emperor, and by favor he was not cast into prison but permitted to rent and live in his own hired commodious house. Though still constantly chained to a soldier under guard, he was at liberty to receive all who came to him and daily preached to them the kingdom of God and the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence and without hindrance. His public work was restricted and he could not labor as he had hoped, yet his bonds became known in the imperial palace and his witness carried the gospel to great victory, with converts even from Caesar's household joining the church. Before the two years ended he was tried and declared guiltless and released to leave Rome, in contrast to his later confinement in a gloomy dungeon unto a criminal's death, and his receiving of all in his hired house outlines the present call to a world-wide evangelistic and medical missionary work in neglected fields.
Arrival and Custody in Rome
The verse belongs to Paul's coming to Rome as a prisoner after landing at Puteoli, following the voyage from Melita to Puteoli on the Alexandrian ship Castor and Pollux. The Christians in Italy had eagerly looked forward to his visit ever since receiving his epistle to the Romans, and though they had not expected to see him arrive in chains, his sufferings only endeared him to them the more. When word of his approach reached Rome by constant communication from the seaport a hundred and forty miles away, some started out that distance to meet and welcome him.
He dwelt there two whole years because his accusers, the Jews of Jerusalem, after being thwarted before Lysias, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, delayed appearing in person to accuse him before the emperor. God in His providence used that delay to advance the gospel, giving Paul freedom to meet visitors and daily present the truth to all who came to hear.
He was not thrown into prison but by favor was permitted to live in his own hired house, a commodious house that he rented himself. This favor came through the good account given of him by the centurion Julius together with the letter from Festus, which caused him to be favorably regarded by the captain of the emperor's guard. Though still constantly chained to a soldier and kept under guard, and though he spent the two years in Rome as a prisoner under guard and comparatively free, he was at liberty to receive his friends and all who came to him and to labor for the advancement of the cause of Christ.
Preaching and Its Fruit
In his hired house Paul spent the full two years receiving all who came to him and daily presenting the truth to every hearer. There he preached the kingdom of God and taught those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence. No man forbade him, and he continued his labors without hindrance. The delay of his Jerusalem accusers in appearing before the emperor gave providence room to advance the gospel through this open house.
His public work was restricted, for he had no command to appear before the king as Moses and Aaron had before Pharaoh. He could not labor as he had hoped, being confined as a prisoner to the house he had rented. Yet his bonds became known in the imperial palace and elsewhere, so that confinement itself helped spread the gospel.
Though aged and in chains and shut within his house even in the stronghold of the Caesars, his witness carried the gospel forward. That faithful testimony won a great victory. People from Caesar's household became Christians and joined the church.
Release and Present Call
For two whole years in Rome Paul was comparatively free to carry on gospel work, though still under guard. Before those two years ended, the just and merciful official who had allowed him this freedom was replaced by a cruel tyrant. After his trial Nero declared him guiltless, his bonds were removed, and he was made free again. That stay ended with release, when he left Rome soon afterward and was thus spared the persecution that followed.
His first imprisonment was spent in his own hired house, which stands in contrast with his later imprisonment when he was taken to a gloomy dungeon. There he was kept chained night and day until he finished his course. In chains and facing a criminal's death under Nero, his endurance exemplifies faith standing firm against worldly power.
After the Jews refused the gospel, his closing experience was to dwell two whole years in his hired house and receive all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, with no man forbidding him. This closing experience outlines the present situation. It calls for a world-wide work not confined to believers but carried forward in important outposts and long-neglected fields through evangelistic and medical missionary work.
Paul dwelt two whole years at Rome as a prisoner because his Jewish accusers delayed appearing before the emperor, and by favor he was not cast into prison but permitted to rent and live in his own hired commodious house. Though still constantly chained to a soldier under guard, he was at liberty to receive all who came to him and daily preached to them the kingdom of God and the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence and without hindrance. His public work was restricted and he could not labor as he had hoped, yet his bonds became known in the imperial palace and his witness carried the gospel to great victory, with converts even from Caesar's household joining the church. Before the two years ended he was tried and declared guiltless and released to leave Rome, in contrast to his later confinement in a gloomy dungeon unto a criminal's death, and his receiving of all in his hired house outlines the present call to a world-wide evangelistic and medical missionary work in neglected fields.
Arrival and Custody in Rome
The verse belongs to Paul's coming to Rome as a prisoner after landing at Puteoli, following the voyage from Melita to Puteoli on the Alexandrian ship Castor and Pollux. The Christians in Italy had eagerly looked forward to his visit ever since receiving his epistle to the Romans, and though they had not expected to see him arrive in chains, his sufferings only endeared him to them the more. When word of his approach reached Rome by constant communication from the seaport a hundred and forty miles away, some started out that distance to meet and welcome him.
He dwelt there two whole years because his accusers, the Jews of Jerusalem, after being thwarted before Lysias, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, delayed appearing in person to accuse him before the emperor. God in His providence used that delay to advance the gospel, giving Paul freedom to meet visitors and daily present the truth to all who came to hear.
He was not thrown into prison but by favor was permitted to live in his own hired house, a commodious house that he rented himself. This favor came through the good account given of him by the centurion Julius together with the letter from Festus, which caused him to be favorably regarded by the captain of the emperor's guard. Though still constantly chained to a soldier and kept under guard, and though he spent the two years in Rome as a prisoner under guard and comparatively free, he was at liberty to receive his friends and all who came to him and to labor for the advancement of the cause of Christ.
Preaching and Its Fruit
In his hired house Paul spent the full two years receiving all who came to him and daily presenting the truth to every hearer. There he preached the kingdom of God and taught those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence. No man forbade him, and he continued his labors without hindrance. The delay of his Jerusalem accusers in appearing before the emperor gave providence room to advance the gospel through this open house.
His public work was restricted, for he had no command to appear before the king as Moses and Aaron had before Pharaoh. He could not labor as he had hoped, being confined as a prisoner to the house he had rented. Yet his bonds became known in the imperial palace and elsewhere, so that confinement itself helped spread the gospel.
Though aged and in chains and shut within his house even in the stronghold of the Caesars, his witness carried the gospel forward. That faithful testimony won a great victory. People from Caesar's household became Christians and joined the church.
Release and Present Call
For two whole years in Rome Paul was comparatively free to carry on gospel work, though still under guard. Before those two years ended, the just and merciful official who had allowed him this freedom was replaced by a cruel tyrant. After his trial Nero declared him guiltless, his bonds were removed, and he was made free again. That stay ended with release, when he left Rome soon afterward and was thus spared the persecution that followed.
His first imprisonment was spent in his own hired house, which stands in contrast with his later imprisonment when he was taken to a gloomy dungeon. There he was kept chained night and day until he finished his course. In chains and facing a criminal's death under Nero, his endurance exemplifies faith standing firm against worldly power.
After the Jews refused the gospel, his closing experience was to dwell two whole years in his hired house and receive all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, with no man forbidding him. This closing experience outlines the present situation. It calls for a world-wide work not confined to believers but carried forward in important outposts and long-neglected fields through evangelistic and medical missionary work.