Acts 28:31, commentary and pictures

For two whole years in his own hired house at Rome, though still chained to a soldier and confined to his dwelling, Paul received all who came to him and preached daily the kingdom of God and the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding or preventing him. He was granted this comparative freedom because the centurion and the letter from Festus gave a good account of him to the captain of the emperor's guard, and because the Jews delayed to accuse him before the emperor after Lysias, Felix, Festus and Agrippa had declared him innocent, which in God's providence furthered the gospel and spread it more widely. His bonds became known throughout the palace and his work brought converts and strengthened believers among many nations and ranks, even winning members of the king's and Caesar's household to the church and showing that God's purpose advanced when Paul could not labor as he had planned. Though aged and in chains facing death under Nero he still preached Christ with confidence, showing that faith in God's word can stand against the power of rulers and empires. The same open, unhindered preaching continued after his release as he labored among the churches, and it outlines the present work as not confined to believers but to be world-wide evangelistic and medical missionary work in important outposts and neglected fields.

Paul's Imprisonment in Rome

The verse closes Paul's prisoner voyage to Rome on the Alexandrian ship Castor and Pollux by way of Puteoli. Italian Christians there had received his letter to the Romans and had eagerly awaited his visit, and they loved him more because he came as a suffering prisoner. They learned of his approach through constant communication between the seaport a hundred and forty miles away and the metropolis, and after the seven-day stay granted by the centurion they started out to meet and welcome him.

At Rome he was not thrown into prison but was permitted to live in his own hired, commodious house. This favor came because Julius the centurion gave a good account of him and the letter from Festus caused him to be favorably regarded by the captain of the emperor's guard. Through the clemency of his guard he was left comparatively free to receive his friends and to labor for the advancement of the cause, although still constantly chained to a soldier.

For two whole years he received all who came to him in that house, preaching daily to all who came to hear. Though under guard and confined to his dwelling and unable to travel, he could meet freely with friends and visitors. He used his confinement for gospel work, continuing to proclaim the truth to only those who came to him.

This opportunity came after the Jews departed and had great reasoning among themselves upon hearing that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles and they will hear it. The Jews of Jerusalem delayed coming in person to accuse him before the highest tribunal of the Roman empire, since Lysias, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa had all declared him innocent and they hoped only by intrigue and delay to influence the emperor in their favor. In God's providence the delay in his trial and in his case furthered the gospel and gave it further opportunity to spread.

Unhindered Preaching and Results

For two whole years in Rome Paul preached the kingdom of God and taught the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, with no one forbidding or preventing him. Though under guard and unable to travel, he was allowed to live in a house where he could receive all visitors and meet freely with friends, and he used his confinement for gospel work, preaching daily to all who came to hear. The guard's clemency left him comparatively free to carry on, and the delay in his trial before the highest tribunal furthered the gospel and gave it further opportunity to spread.

That unhindered work brought converts and strengthened believers. He preached to people of many nations and social ranks, and although confined to his dwelling and able to speak only to those who came to him, he continued to proclaim the truth until his bonds became known throughout the imperial household. Members of the king's household and of Caesar's household joined the church, bringing a great victory for the gospel and showing that God's purpose advanced even when Paul could not labor as he had planned. After his release from imprisonment he continued the same open, confident preaching of God's kingdom and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ without anyone stopping him, laboring among the churches before doing his final work.

This dwelling two whole years in his hired house and receiving all who came, after the Jews departed and had great reasoning among themselves upon hearing that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles and they will hear it, outlines the present situation where work is not to be confined to believers but is to be a world-wide evangelistic and medical missionary work in important outposts and neglected fields. Though aged and in chains as a prisoner facing death under Nero, Paul continued to preach Christ with confidence. His example shows that faith in God's word can stand against the power of rulers and empires, and illustrates how a special work for God may begin with few advocates and face opposition and contempt from powerful rulers and religious institutions.