Paul had finally
arrived in the capital of Rome.
00:01:39.73\00:01:42.65
He had set his heart on
coming to this city years
00:01:42.69\00:01:45.58
earlier while at Ephesus.
00:01:45.61\00:01:47.45
While it was not the
entrance that he anticipated,
00:01:47.49\00:01:50.73
he was now entering
the city with chains.
00:01:50.76\00:01:53.82
He was confident that
his coming to this city
00:01:53.86\00:01:56.85
would cause to advance
the message of Jesus Christ
00:01:56.89\00:02:01.99
throughout the empire.
00:02:02.03\00:02:03.51
Paul must have been thankful
as he entered the city for
00:02:03.55\00:02:06.98
the positive report that
the Roman centurion, Claudius
00:02:07.02\00:02:10.42
Lysias had given
about him in Jerusalem.
00:02:10.46\00:02:13.55
How that the Roman governors
of Palestine, both Festus
00:02:13.59\00:02:17.01
and Felix, had said that
there was no basis in the
00:02:17.04\00:02:20.43
charges lodged against him.
00:02:20.46\00:02:22.47
How even King Agrippa had
come and said this man should
00:02:22.51\00:02:25.81
be released, he has done
nothing worthy of being in
00:02:25.85\00:02:29.12
prison, and
certainly not of death.
00:02:29.15\00:02:31.41
But as Paul looked forward
to his date before Caesar's
00:02:31.44\00:02:35.67
Court, he was confident he
would be released, but if not
00:02:35.70\00:02:39.90
that was okay, he was
willing to die for his Lord
00:02:39.93\00:02:43.15
here in this city.
00:02:43.18\00:02:45.00
As Paul entered into the
magnificent city, he was taken
00:02:45.04\00:02:49.29
before the captain
of the Praetorian guard.
00:02:49.32\00:02:53.40
We know his name at this
time was Afrianus Burrus,
00:02:53.44\00:02:58.15
he was the tutor of Nero.
00:02:58.19\00:03:01.08
Paul was thankful for the
positive report that had been
00:03:03.05\00:03:06.09
given by the Centurion
and the two Roman generals and
00:03:06.13\00:03:09.66
King Agrippa, for this
influenced General Burrus to
00:03:09.70\00:03:13.16
allow Paul to live in a rented
house, in his own quarters
00:03:13.20\00:03:17.14
under the watch of one
of the Praetorian guards.
00:03:17.18\00:03:20.76
When Paul was brought
before the Imperial Tribunal,
00:03:20.79\00:03:24.34
on the Palatine Hill,
00:03:24.38\00:03:26.36
He would have walked
into the great forum of Rome.
00:03:26.39\00:03:29.53
The splendid ancient
ruins here would not have looked
00:03:29.56\00:03:32.66
quite the same in Paul's day.
00:03:32.69\00:03:34.65
Several of the buildings
have not yet been built.
00:03:34.69\00:03:38.26
The beautiful arches of
Titus, Septimius Severus,
00:03:38.30\00:03:41.84
and Constantine had
not yet been erected.
00:03:41.87\00:03:44.38
Nor had the columns of
Trajan, or Marcus Aurelius,
00:03:44.41\00:03:47.80
and of course the most
recognizable building of the
00:03:47.83\00:03:51.15
ancient city, the Coliseum
had not yet been constructed.
00:03:51.19\00:03:54.96
This building will be
built largely from the spoils of
00:03:54.99\00:03:58.56
the Jewish war and the
bootie taken from Jerusalem.
00:03:58.59\00:04:02.31
It was built by Vespasian
and his son Titus near a
00:04:02.34\00:04:06.03
colossal statue
of Nero had stood.
00:04:06.06\00:04:08.89
The name stuck and today
it is known as the Coliseum.
00:04:08.93\00:04:12.59
This was the place of the
games, but it is not clear
00:04:12.63\00:04:16.26
that Christians were
actually martyred here.
00:04:16.29\00:04:18.89
The building was used as
a quarry to construct new
00:04:18.92\00:04:22.83
buildings until Pope Pius
IX declared it to be a holy
00:04:22.87\00:04:26.51
place, saying that Christians
had given their lives for
00:04:26.55\00:04:30.16
Jesus in this place.
00:04:30.19\00:04:32.54
This preserved the
remains of the buildings that
00:04:32.58\00:04:35.51
we see and love today.
00:04:35.55\00:04:37.51
As Paul was brought to
the forum to be interviewed by
00:04:37.55\00:04:41.20
the Imperial Tribunal,
he would have been passed by
00:04:41.23\00:04:44.84
the great temple
of Castor and Pollux.
00:04:44.88\00:04:47.40
This great temple
was dedicated to the twin
00:04:47.43\00:04:50.47
sons of Zeus,
who were said to be
00:04:50.50\00:04:52.64
the patrons of Mariners.
00:04:52.67\00:04:54.43
The Alexandrian grain
ship that he had sailed on from
00:04:54.47\00:04:57.85
Malta to Pots-Wally
actually had the figureheads of
00:04:57.89\00:05:01.59
Castor and Pollux, but
Paul recognized it was not the
00:05:01.63\00:05:04.81
twin sons of Zeus that
had delivered him from certain
00:05:04.85\00:05:08.43
death in the sea, but it
was the Lord Jesus Christ who
00:05:08.47\00:05:11.56
had commissioned him to
come here, to the city of Rome,
00:05:11.59\00:05:14.65
to proclaim the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:05:14.69\00:05:18.53
As Paul walked amongst
the great forum he would have
00:05:18.56\00:05:21.91
passed by the Senate and
other outstanding buildings
00:05:21.94\00:05:25.64
of iniquity, thanking God
that finally he had arrived.
00:05:25.67\00:05:29.33
Finally he had the
opportunity to witness even
00:05:29.37\00:05:33.07
to Caesar's household.
00:05:33.11\00:05:34.90
Perhaps Paul came and
paused here by the rostrum,
00:05:34.93\00:05:38.96
and as he did he must have
thought of how Mark Anthony
00:05:39.00\00:05:42.46
had addressed the
nation after the assassination
00:05:42.50\00:05:45.18
of Julius Caesar.
00:05:45.22\00:05:46.94
Shakespeare put these
words into Mark Anthony's mouth,
00:05:46.97\00:05:50.09
"Friends, Romans,
countrymen, lend me your ears. "
00:05:50.12\00:05:54.52
"We do not come today to
praise Caesar but to bury him. "
00:05:54.56\00:05:58.83
Yes Paul would have been
very familiar with Mark Anthony
00:05:58.87\00:06:03.11
for he had built his
Imperial Palace at Tarsus.
00:06:03.15\00:06:06.51
It was Tarsus that Cleopatra
sailed up from Egypt to
00:06:06.55\00:06:10.44
meet Rome's most famous general.
00:06:10.47\00:06:13.42
Perhaps as Paul
stood here by the rostrum,
00:06:13.45\00:06:18.06
he thought back to Philippi,
because it was at Philippi
00:06:18.10\00:06:22.45
where Mark Anthony and
Octavian caught up with
00:06:22.48\00:06:25.58
Caesar's assassins and
it was there on the plains
00:06:25.62\00:06:28.40
surrounding Philippi
that the assassins were
00:06:28.43\00:06:31.18
defeated and committed suicide.
00:06:31.21\00:06:33.06
Perhaps, as he was remembering
that story, he must have
00:06:33.09\00:06:36.77
thought the lovely
church at Philippi.
00:06:36.80\00:06:39.64
Perhaps as he began thinking
about them, it prompted a
00:06:39.68\00:06:43.27
letter to them during his
imprisonment here at Rome.
00:06:43.31\00:06:46.86
He looked back with special
fondness to the church at
00:06:46.90\00:06:50.83
Philippi, he had a special
place in his heart for them.
00:06:50.86\00:06:54.88
I wonder as he walked up
before the Imperial Tribunal,
00:06:54.92\00:06:58.91
did he think about Lydia?
00:06:58.94\00:07:00.69
Was he reminded of this
merchant princess from Thyatira,
00:07:00.72\00:07:04.27
and how she had
accepted the gospel?
00:07:04.31\00:07:06.63
Did he think about that
jailer and the miracle that had
00:07:06.67\00:07:09.52
taken place when he was
imprisoned there in Philippi?
00:07:09.55\00:07:12.71
How the jailer and his
entire family believed and were
00:07:12.74\00:07:15.87
baptized in the name of Jesus.
00:07:15.90\00:07:18.17
Did he think about that
girl who had been possessed with
00:07:18.21\00:07:21.27
an evil spirit all of her
life, and how she had been
00:07:21.30\00:07:24.33
delivered in the name of Jesus?
00:07:24.36\00:07:26.41
He must've thought about the
church at Philippi and he takes
00:07:26.45\00:07:29.67
out is pen and writes a
beautiful letter telling them
00:07:29.71\00:07:32.84
not to be discouraged
about what has happened to him.
00:07:32.88\00:07:35.97
He was upbeat, Paul
was full of courage.
00:07:36.01\00:07:39.15
Paul did not see his
arrest as a great tragedy.
00:08:01.90\00:08:05.39
He saw that he had been
brought to Rome at state expense
00:08:05.43\00:08:09.19
and as the soldiers of
the Praetorian Guards switched
00:08:09.23\00:08:12.92
off, one by one they were
having the opportunity to be
00:08:12.95\00:08:16.60
exposed to the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:08:16.64\00:08:19.76
This confidence was encouraging
the believers throughout
00:08:19.80\00:08:23.02
the city to be more bold
in sharing and witnessing
00:08:23.06\00:08:26.41
about their Lord Jesus.
00:08:26.44\00:08:28.24
Yes Paul could write to the
church in Philippi to rejoice
00:08:28.27\00:08:32.32
always, and again I say rejoice.
00:08:32.36\00:08:34.69
Yes Paul was confident
that he was here on a mission
00:08:34.72\00:08:38.44
and that Jesus would use
his testimony, in this city,
00:08:38.48\00:08:42.66
to reach into the
highest levels of Roman society.
00:08:42.70\00:08:47.38
For a man on trial before
a corrupt system, Paul had
00:08:47.42\00:08:51.69
great peace in his heart,
he must've been reminded about
00:08:51.72\00:08:55.96
this peace as he passed
by the great Mausoleum of
00:08:55.99\00:08:59.54
Augustus Caesar and
the great Altar to Peace.
00:08:59.57\00:09:03.05
Yes indeed the Roman
peace had provided the basis for
00:09:03.08\00:09:07.13
Paul to move freely through
the ancient world preaching
00:09:07.17\00:09:11.18
that Jesus was the Christ.
00:09:11.22\00:09:13.16
Rome had settled the world
and had brought a tremendous
00:09:13.19\00:09:16.59
peace and security, and
network of roads, but as Paul
00:09:16.63\00:09:19.96
read the testament of Caesar
Augustus there by his mausoleum
00:09:20.00\00:09:24.46
on the Altar of Peace and
it ascribed the title Prince of
00:09:24.49\00:09:28.92
Peace to him, Paul knew
that that was hyperbole.
00:09:28.95\00:09:32.25
He knew there was only
one Prince of peace, the true
00:09:32.29\00:09:35.17
Prince of peace
was Jesus Christ.
00:09:35.20\00:09:37.62
The only One that can
bring peace to the heart,
00:09:37.65\00:09:40.02
and peace to the
soul was Jesus Himself.
00:09:40.06\00:09:43.10
Rome might bring peace to
the world because people were
00:09:43.13\00:09:45.98
afraid of their swords
and their spears, but the only
00:09:46.01\00:09:48.73
One who could change the
heart and change the life,
00:09:48.76\00:09:51.44
was Jesus Himself.
00:09:51.48\00:09:53.76
Yes Paul wrote about
this tremendous peace when he
00:09:53.79\00:09:56.79
wrote his letter to the
church at Philippi, from here
00:09:56.83\00:09:59.79
in the city of Rome.
00:09:59.83\00:10:01.34
But Paul you are in prison!
00:10:16.81\00:10:18.27
You have a death
sentence hanging over your head.
00:10:18.31\00:10:20.98
How can you not be anxious?
00:10:21.01\00:10:22.74
Paul said to be anxious
in nothing but in everything
00:10:22.77\00:10:26.18
by prayer and supplication,
make your requests known
00:10:26.21\00:10:29.59
unto God with Thanksgiving.
00:10:29.62\00:10:31.52
Yes the only reason Paul
had peace in his heart was
00:10:31.56\00:10:34.57
because he surrendered
himself to the Lordship of Jesus
00:10:34.60\00:10:37.95
Christ, he had the peace
of Jesus within so he did not
00:10:37.99\00:10:41.35
have to be anxious about
what the outcome would be.
00:10:41.38\00:10:44.49
He was confident that his
life was hidden in the life
00:10:44.53\00:10:47.72
of God, he was confident
that whatever happened would
00:10:47.75\00:10:50.91
be for the glory of God.
00:10:50.94\00:10:52.67
Yes the only way that we
can be anxious about nothing
00:10:52.70\00:10:56.29
is to surrender ourselves
to Lordship of Jesus Christ
00:10:56.32\00:10:59.80
by prayer and supplication.
Notice what the benefit is.
00:10:59.83\00:11:03.52
"And the peace of God that
transcends understanding will
00:11:03.55\00:11:06.85
"guard your hearts and your
minds through Christ Jesus. "
00:11:06.89\00:11:10.15
Isn't that precious?
00:11:10.18\00:11:11.71
While Paul is on trial for
his life here in the city of
00:11:11.74\00:11:14.66
Rome, he has committed
himself, he's submitted himself
00:11:14.70\00:11:17.58
to the Lordship of Jesus.
00:11:17.62\00:11:19.35
He's submitted himself in
prayer, and he is confident
00:11:19.39\00:11:22.55
that whatever happens,
it is for the glory of God.
00:11:22.58\00:11:25.71
He said in Romans 8:28.
00:11:25.74\00:11:28.55
Yes Paul had a great
confidence in the Lord.
00:11:35.44\00:11:38.16
He was confident that this
seeming tragedy would turn out
00:11:38.19\00:11:41.82
to be a great blessing for
the advancement of the gospel
00:11:41.86\00:11:45.45
and for the cause of
Christ, both in this city and
00:11:45.49\00:11:48.19
throughout the Roman empire.
00:11:48.22\00:11:50.63
Paul had a peace deep
in his heart, a peace as he
00:11:50.66\00:11:55.07
described to the Philippians,
that passed understanding.
00:11:55.11\00:11:58.34
A peace that only those
that have experienced it can
00:11:58.37\00:12:02.16
know about, Paul had this
great peace deep inside his
00:12:02.19\00:12:06.24
heart and he was confident
that the gospel would triumph
00:12:06.28\00:12:10.29
both in the city of Rome
and throughout the world.
00:12:10.33\00:12:13.72
Paul wrote to the church at
Philippi, the church he loved
00:12:13.75\00:12:17.57
so dearly that he told them
how the gospel was penetrating
00:12:17.61\00:12:21.40
right into the very
house of the Caesar's.
00:12:21.43\00:12:24.14
Yes this was a tremendous
development, even Caesar's
00:12:33.39\00:12:38.20
household had been
penetrated by the gospel.
00:12:38.23\00:12:41.01
Paul was confident, and he
was seeing the fruitage here
00:12:41.05\00:12:44.95
in the city of Rome, even
Caesar's household had now been
00:12:44.98\00:12:48.85
exposed to the gospel
and some were believing.
00:12:48.88\00:12:51.69
Paul was here in chains,
and yet he did not complain.
00:12:51.73\00:12:56.22
He faithfully
witnessed for his Lord.
00:12:56.26\00:12:59.31
Notice how Luke concludes
the record of Acts 28:30.
00:12:59.34\00:13:05.84
For two whole years Paul
lived in his own rented quarters
00:13:19.56\00:13:22.37
here in the city of Rome.
00:13:22.41\00:13:24.16
He was able to entertain
guests who would come and go.
00:13:24.20\00:13:27.28
He was able to instruct
the leaders of the church.
00:13:27.32\00:13:30.41
He was able to share
with seekers about Jesus being
00:13:30.44\00:13:33.50
the Christ, the Messiah.
00:13:33.53\00:13:35.34
Yes it was a
productive time of ministry.
00:13:35.37\00:13:37.79
Yes he was chained to a
Roman soldier, they would change
00:13:37.83\00:13:41.54
off every four hours.
00:13:41.58\00:13:44.12
Although he was chained to
the soldier, they were able to
00:13:44.16\00:13:47.49
listen to the interviews
he would give with the church.
00:13:47.53\00:13:50.78
They were able to listen
as he would share Jesus with
00:13:50.81\00:13:54.63
seekers, yes the gospel
penetrated even this elite
00:13:54.67\00:13:58.45
group of guards and
many became believers.
00:13:58.49\00:14:01.10
But what if Paul
would have been sour?
00:14:01.14\00:14:03.42
What if Paul would
have been complaining?
00:14:03.45\00:14:05.66
What he said after all I
have done as a faithful soldier
00:14:05.70\00:14:09.08
of Jesus, look at me now,
look what has happened to me?
00:14:09.12\00:14:12.47
Think of what
would have been lost.
00:14:12.50\00:14:14.89
But instead Paul came
believing that his life was
00:14:14.92\00:14:19.46
hidden in the life of God.
00:14:19.49\00:14:20.93
Yes today there is a strange
brand of Christianity that
00:14:27.62\00:14:30.55
goes around, today there
is a brand of Christianity I
00:14:30.58\00:14:33.47
call health,
wealth, and prosperity.
00:14:33.51\00:14:35.85
If you only believe that
God will bless you with all
00:14:35.89\00:14:38.39
kinds of things, and if
you send money to my ministry
00:14:38.42\00:14:41.22
you will prosper, and
nothing bad will happen and you
00:14:41.26\00:14:44.62
will reap multiplied material
blessings here in this world.
00:14:44.66\00:14:48.32
Paul came in chains, yet
he said I have learned to be
00:14:48.35\00:14:51.98
content, whether I
have much or little.
00:14:52.02\00:14:54.20
I have learned to be content
Jesus Christ, that my life
00:14:54.23\00:14:57.63
is trusting in Him
no matter what happens.
00:14:57.67\00:15:00.50
Luke closes his record of
Paul's life in the book of Acts
00:15:00.53\00:15:04.35
with this two-year imprisonment.
00:15:04.38\00:15:06.49
Scripture is actually
silent on what happens to Paul
00:15:06.53\00:15:09.47
after this, but tradition
has generally held that Paul
00:15:09.51\00:15:12.38
was acquitted before Nero of
the charges lodged against him
00:15:12.41\00:15:16.30
by the Jews in Jerusalem.
00:15:16.34\00:15:18.01
Paul was free to go.
00:15:18.04\00:15:19.77
We do not know exactly where
he went, we do know that he
00:15:19.80\00:15:23.19
had long had a
desire to go to Spain.
00:15:23.23\00:15:26.23
We draw certain inferences
from Paul's later letters to
00:15:26.27\00:15:30.57
Timothy and Titus that
Paul would also return back to
00:15:30.61\00:15:34.88
Asia and to
Macedonia and Acacia.
00:15:34.92\00:15:38.50
He would go to the
island of Crete and
00:15:38.54\00:15:41.27
proclaim the gospel there.
00:15:41.30\00:15:43.39
In his letter to Titus,
he tells them that I want to
00:15:43.43\00:15:46.86
meet you in Nicopolis.
00:15:46.90\00:15:49.33
Nicopolis was a city on
the western shore of Greece.
00:15:49.36\00:15:53.84
On the eastern edge
of the Adriatic Sea.
00:15:53.88\00:15:57.30
This was a place near
the Battle of Actium and very
00:15:57.33\00:16:01.92
important in Roman history.
00:16:01.96\00:16:03.67
There was a roman colony
established there and he wanted
00:16:03.71\00:16:07.21
to meet Titus
there for the winter.
00:16:07.25\00:16:09.21
Paul was arrested in Nicopolis
and sent in chains back
00:16:09.24\00:16:12.73
to the city of Rome.
00:16:12.76\00:16:14.23
This time Rome would not
be so gracious to this Roman
00:16:14.27\00:16:17.90
Citizen, this time he would
be cast into the Mamertinum
00:16:17.94\00:16:21.53
prison, held in a
dungeon awaiting sentence.
00:16:21.57\00:16:25.39
He describes it in
second Timothy how his first
00:16:25.43\00:16:28.91
defense everyone had
fled, but God was faithful
00:16:28.94\00:16:32.39
and had sustained him.
00:16:32.43\00:16:34.02
According to the traditions,
after the fires of Nero
00:16:50.47\00:16:55.22
in 64 A.D., Paul was
rearrested and held here
00:16:55.26\00:16:59.66
in the Mamertinum prison.
00:16:59.69\00:17:01.90
This time it looks like
a dismal future for Paul.
00:17:01.94\00:17:05.79
It does not look like the
optimistic deliverance he had
00:17:05.83\00:17:09.37
anticipated when
here a few years before.
00:17:09.41\00:17:11.78
For now Paul has been
singled out as the scapegoat
00:17:11.82\00:17:15.04
for the fires of Rome.
00:17:15.07\00:17:17.03
As the leader of the Christians,
yes Nero the insane Emperor
00:17:17.07\00:17:21.54
had trumped up
charges against him.
00:17:21.58\00:17:23.50
Paul would be used as an
example before the city of Rome.
00:17:23.53\00:17:28.58
Paul wrote some very
precious words to Timothy.
00:17:28.62\00:17:32.09
All had forsaken him, yes
he had sent some to minister in
00:17:54.60\00:17:58.67
different places, but now he was
alone in the city of Rome and
00:17:58.71\00:18:01.84
only Luke, the
doctor, was with him.
00:18:01.87\00:18:03.82
Paul the faithful witness,
encouraged his friend Timothy
00:18:03.85\00:18:08.49
to bring Mark, bring the
parchments, and bring his coat
00:18:08.52\00:18:13.12
and come before winter.
00:18:13.16\00:18:15.08
This would not have been
his Roman mantle, his Toga,
00:18:15.12\00:18:18.94
but a heavy winter coat
to protect him as he was in a
00:18:18.98\00:18:22.77
dungeon and
winter was approaching.
00:18:22.80\00:18:24.93
It would be a miserable winter.
00:18:24.97\00:18:26.58
The Christians had drawn
back and were afraid because
00:18:26.62\00:18:30.61
of the great
persecutions that had followed
00:18:30.64\00:18:33.59
the fires of Nero.
00:18:33.62\00:18:35.52
Tradition says that he was
incarcerated and held here until
00:18:35.56\00:18:40.63
he was taken out through
the gates of the city to a spot
00:18:40.67\00:18:45.70
outside the walls
where he was to be beheaded.
00:18:45.74\00:18:49.98
This spot has been
beautifully preserved in the
00:18:50.01\00:18:54.22
Abbey of the Three Fountains.
00:18:54.25\00:18:57.07
We have come to this very
beautiful spot where Paul is
00:18:57.11\00:19:02.73
said to have been
led from the gates of
00:19:02.76\00:19:05.17
the city to be executed.
00:19:05.20\00:19:06.87
Since Paul was a Roman citizen
he could not be crucified
00:19:06.90\00:19:10.82
like his Lord Jesus, or
even like his friend Peter.
00:19:10.85\00:19:15.14
Paul was a Roman citizen,
and the method of death for
00:19:15.18\00:19:19.43
citizens was to be quicker.
00:19:19.46\00:19:21.78
It was to be beheaded.
00:19:21.81\00:19:24.03
Tradition says, Paul was
led to this very special spot
00:19:24.07\00:19:28.66
that has been preserved by
the Abbey of the Three Fountains
00:19:28.69\00:19:33.06
to be executed.
00:19:33.09\00:19:35.40
We have followed Paul's
footsteps for over 13,000 miles.
00:19:35.43\00:19:39.57
Yes, 13,000 known miles
from Tarsus to Jerusalem to
00:19:39.61\00:19:44.20
Damascus, and through the
greatest cities of the Roman
00:19:44.24\00:19:48.80
world, then
finally to Rome itself.
00:19:48.83\00:19:51.67
Paul had faithfully
followed wherever his Lord lead.
00:19:51.71\00:19:56.62
Now his Lord had led him
here, faithfully, confidently,
00:19:56.65\00:20:01.58
triumphantly, Paul walked
out of the city to this place.
00:20:01.61\00:20:06.20
This place, where according
to tradition, Paul was tied
00:20:06.24\00:20:10.79
to a post and decapitated.
00:20:10.83\00:20:13.34
Paul came here witnessing
for his Lord, witnessing to the
00:20:13.38\00:20:19.75
last moment, we don't
have his last words but we
00:20:19.79\00:20:23.32
do have his last letter.
00:20:23.35\00:20:25.31
He wrote his dear friend,
and son in the gospel, Timothy.
00:20:25.35\00:20:29.01
He encouraged Timothy to
be a faithful pastor, to be a
00:20:29.04\00:20:32.49
faithful evangelist, to
hang on to the word of God,
00:20:32.53\00:20:35.93
to teach faithfully, and
to teach other younger men to
00:20:35.97\00:20:39.34
preserve the great
teachings of the Gospel.
00:20:39.38\00:20:43.01
But then he told Timothy I
am ready to be poured out like
00:20:43.04\00:20:47.24
a drink offering,
let me read it to you.
00:20:47.27\00:20:49.69
Yes Paul had faithfully
followed in the footsteps of
00:21:15.72\00:21:19.52
Jesus, he had run the race,
he had finished the course,
00:21:19.56\00:21:23.32
he had been
obedient to the vision.
00:21:23.36\00:21:26.06
Yes Paul was confident
that he had followed wherever
00:21:26.10\00:21:29.50
Jesus had led, from that
calling on the Damascus road,
00:21:29.54\00:21:32.91
to here in the
great city of Rome.
00:21:32.94\00:21:34.89
He said I have finished the
course, I have run the race,
00:21:34.93\00:21:39.34
I've kept the faith and I
am confident that hereafter
00:21:39.37\00:21:43.72
is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, and not only
00:21:43.75\00:21:48.06
for me, but for all who
love the Lord's appearing
00:21:48.10\00:21:51.65
on that great day.
00:21:51.68\00:21:53.95
Yes Paul would have come
here triumphantly, confidently,
00:21:53.99\00:21:57.66
with great assurance, he
knew his death would not be the
00:21:57.69\00:22:01.39
end, he believed that there
was laid up for him a crown
00:22:01.43\00:22:05.09
of righteousness which
the Lord Jesus will give
00:22:05.13\00:22:07.76
to him on that day.
00:22:07.80\00:22:09.55
Yes there may be corrupt
governments in this world,
00:22:09.58\00:22:13.15
they have passed a death
sentence on an innocent man,
00:22:13.18\00:22:17.21
on trumped up charges
brought because of the insanity
00:22:17.25\00:22:21.24
of the Emperor Nero.
00:22:21.28\00:22:23.17
Yet Paul comes here, confident
that even his death will
00:22:23.20\00:22:28.15
have a profound
effect upon the believers.
00:22:28.19\00:22:31.00
Even upon the Imperial
guard who was about to execute
00:22:31.04\00:22:35.19
him, Paul would have
shared this confidence with the
00:22:35.23\00:22:39.35
believers who had gathered.
00:22:39.39\00:22:40.96
He would have had them to look
forward to that day, that same
00:22:40.99\00:22:44.22
day that he had written to the
church of Thessalonica about.
00:22:44.25\00:22:47.44
To encourage them.
00:22:47.47\00:22:49.20
Yes, Paul said to encourage
each other with these words.
00:23:12.70\00:23:16.67
He must have encouraged
the believers that day.
00:23:16.70\00:23:19.35
Yes, I'm giving my life
today, but I will see you on
00:23:19.38\00:23:22.27
that glad morning of
the resurrection when Jesus
00:23:22.31\00:23:25.55
comes again because I
know there is laid up for me a
00:23:25.59\00:23:28.76
Crown of righteousness that
He will grant me on that day,
00:23:28.80\00:23:32.16
and to you too.
00:23:32.19\00:23:33.48
Be faithful, he must have
said, be faithful even unto
00:23:33.51\00:23:37.15
death and you will
receive the very crown of life.
00:23:37.18\00:23:40.74
Paul had faithfully followed
wherever Jesus led, and now
00:23:40.78\00:23:46.52
his footsteps came to
this very special spot.
00:23:46.56\00:23:50.26
While he might have been
executed here on this spot,
00:23:50.30\00:23:54.12
tradition does not point
to this as a place of his
00:23:54.15\00:23:58.07
burial, tradition says
that his disciples gathered his
00:23:58.11\00:24:02.25
body and took him back
toward the city where he was
00:24:02.29\00:24:06.40
placed in a grave.
00:24:06.44\00:24:08.30
This is a very hallowed spot.
00:24:08.33\00:24:10.33
A stone of inscription was
found here dating to the early
00:24:10.37\00:24:15.54
fourth century that said
to, Paul Apostle and Martyr.
00:24:15.58\00:24:19.84
Yes it appears the believers
brought the body of Paul
00:24:19.88\00:24:24.24
from the place of the
Three Fountains to this location
00:24:24.28\00:24:28.61
where he was buried.
00:24:28.64\00:24:30.53
His body would later be
moved to one of the catacombs
00:24:30.57\00:24:33.97
for protection and then
moved back here in the beginning
00:24:34.01\00:24:37.37
part of the fourth century.
00:24:37.41\00:24:39.45
Constantine would build
a church over the spot to
00:24:39.48\00:24:43.62
commemorated, today this
beautiful Basilica provides
00:24:43.66\00:24:48.02
a majestic canopy over
the grave of the apostle Paul.
00:24:48.06\00:24:52.59
Yes it is amazing that
Jew from Tarsus, who traveled
00:24:52.63\00:24:56.65
the world proclaiming
that Jesus Christ was Lord.
00:24:56.69\00:25:00.72
The one who been shipwrecked,
and stoned and beaten
00:25:00.75\00:25:04.75
for his faith, would
ultimately come to reside
00:25:04.79\00:25:08.03
under one of the
most beautiful churches
00:25:08.06\00:25:11.05
ever constructed.
00:25:11.08\00:25:12.87
Paul resides in this grand
cathedral with granite pillars
00:25:12.90\00:25:17.71
that seems to
stretch forth into affinity.
00:25:17.74\00:25:20.73
Yes Paul's footsteps
led to this place, this very
00:25:20.76\00:25:25.66
sacred place, and yet we
know that this was not the
00:25:25.69\00:25:30.22
end of Paul's days, for Paul
looked forward to that great
00:25:30.25\00:25:34.75
day when Jesus will come again.
00:25:34.78\00:25:37.71
That great day
when he would receive
00:25:37.75\00:25:40.44
the gift of immortality.
00:25:40.47\00:25:42.67
And now from this very
special place where Paul's
00:25:46.84\00:25:50.59
earthly journey ended,
I want to encourage you to
00:25:50.62\00:25:54.32
continue your journey,
to continue following in the
00:25:54.35\00:25:58.02
footsteps of Jesus.
00:25:58.05\00:25:59.91
Yes Paul's earthly
journey ended here, but as you
00:25:59.95\00:26:03.45
surrender your heart
and soul and mind to the
00:26:03.49\00:26:06.93
Lordship of Jesus, you
will continue your journey.
00:26:06.96\00:26:10.29
If there is anything
that separates you from Jesus,
00:26:12.40\00:26:15.44
I would encourage
you to surrender that
00:26:15.48\00:26:17.51
to Jesus just now.
00:26:17.54\00:26:19.85
If during this series
you discovered new teachings,
00:26:19.88\00:26:23.39
from God's word,
teachings you did not understand
00:26:23.42\00:26:27.31
previously, I want to
encourage you, like Paul, to be
00:26:27.35\00:26:31.20
fully obedient to what
God has revealed to you,
00:26:31.24\00:26:34.18
and to follow wherever He leads.
00:26:34.22\00:26:36.60
Yes, Paul said I fought the
good fight, I have run the race,
00:26:36.64\00:26:41.33
I have finished the course
and I know that henceforth
00:26:41.36\00:26:44.28
there is laid up a
crown of righteousness
00:26:44.32\00:26:46.94
for me and not
just for me, but for all
00:26:46.97\00:26:49.55
who loves His appearing.
00:26:49.59\00:26:51.29
Oh friends, let's follow
Jesus fully and completely,
00:26:51.33\00:26:55.26
by surrendering to
His Lordship just now.
00:26:55.29\00:26:59.00
Join me as we pray.
00:26:59.03\00:27:00.95
Eternal God, what a joy
it has been to follow in the
00:27:00.99\00:27:03.67
footsteps of the apostle Paul.
00:27:03.71\00:27:05.60
We seen how he encountered
You on the Damascus road
00:27:05.64\00:27:08.62
and he was never the same.
00:27:08.65\00:27:10.24
How that You lead him
to places in distant lands
00:27:10.28\00:27:13.27
proclaiming
light for the Gentiles.
00:27:13.31\00:27:15.27
How he was faithful through
all the great trials that
00:27:15.30\00:27:17.92
he experienced and how
now he came outside the
00:27:17.96\00:27:20.97
city walls of Rome and
triumphantly, faithfully
00:27:21.00\00:27:23.98
laid down his life for You.
00:27:24.01\00:27:26.16
Lord Jesus help us to
follow wherever You lead.
00:27:26.20\00:27:29.49
Help us to accept whatever
You reveal to us from Your
00:27:29.52\00:27:32.63
word, to be faithful to
You Jesus, and to be faithful
00:27:32.66\00:27:35.73
to Your truth as
You reveal it to us.
00:27:35.77\00:27:38.41
In Your holy word, we
thank you for hearing our prayer
00:27:38.44\00:27:42.37
and blessing us on
this very special journey.
00:27:42.41\00:27:44.89
We pray in Jesus name, AMEN!
00:27:44.92\00:27:47.53
It has been an
incredible journey to follow in
00:27:47.57\00:27:49.96
the footsteps of Paul.
00:27:50.00\00:27:51.26
From Tarsus to Jerusalem
to Damascus and throughout the
00:27:51.30\00:27:55.13
Roman world, and now to
follow his footsteps here to the
00:27:55.16\00:27:58.96
great cathedral of St.
Paul outside the walls.
00:27:58.99\00:28:03.45
This is where his earthly
journey ended, but I want to
00:28:03.48\00:28:07.39
encourage you to continue
your journey following, not in
00:28:07.43\00:28:11.30
the footsteps of Paul,
but in the footsteps of
00:28:11.33\00:28:13.62
Jesus Christ Himself.
00:28:13.65\00:28:16.10
From here on the stairs
of the great church of Paul,
00:28:16.14\00:28:20.03
I want to leave you with
this blessing that Paul sent to
00:28:20.07\00:28:23.93
the church of Corinth long ago.
00:28:23.97\00:28:25.98
When he said, "Now
may the grace of our Lord
00:28:26.01\00:28:29.26
"Jesus Christ, and the love
of God, and the fellowship of
00:28:29.30\00:28:33.43
"the Holy Spirit be
with you all, AMEN!"
00:28:33.47\00:28:38.78