Having been a prisoner in Jerusalem, Paul was transferred to this coastal region and became a prisoner in Caesarea. For two years, Paul was forgotten. He had longed to go to Rome – but what seemed like a massive inconvenience and frustration actually provided a significant time of training. Caesarea, with its amphitheatre, hippodrome and harbour, was like a mini-Rome, providing Paul with all the preparation he needed. Eventually Paul did get to leave Israel and set sail for Italy, never to return. In Rome, at the centre of the known world, Paul would go on to share his faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they handed Paul and some other prisoners over. Acts 27.
During his third and final missionary journey, the Apostle Paul had been arrested for his faith and been transferred from Jerusalem to Caesarea Maritima, where he received hearings from a Jewish royal and two Roman governors.
While in custody at the Praetorium at Herod’s Palace, Paul presumably received preferential treatment for being a Roman citizen. The remains of the palace can be seen today; one end borders on the sea, the other is close to the hippodrome. From his cell Paul may have heard the rushing of the waves or the crowds attending chariot races.
One of the governors, Festus, wanted to continue legal proceedings in Jerusalem, but Paul, a Roman citizen, insisted on being tried by the Emperor – presumably Nero (!). Paul got his wishes and, even in chains, continued to take the gospel across the ancient world.
We live in a world that hates waiting – a world of hurry, next-day delivery and high-speed wifi. How are you at waiting?
Paul had a dream to go and preach the gospel in Rome. Can you imagine his frustration, languishing in prison in Caesarea, clearly forgotten by the Roman authorities? This wait wasn’t just for two weeks either – it lasted two years!
And yet God was at work and preparing him for Rome and all that was to come.
Paul’s heart was to be on the road starting Jesus communities. But his time in prison allowed him to compose his apostolic letters. And those letters, according to historian Tom Holland, are the most revolutionary writings to have emerged out of the ancient world. Talk about not wasting your waiting!
Many of our dreams have been put on hold recently. But don’t give up. You may feel forgotten, but God is at work in your waiting. And though the difficult wait may continue, he’s always preparing us for something better than we ever could have dreamed of.
Read on, to find out more about Paul defending the Christian faith.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel to be updated on the latest videos!
An eight-session course helping you explore the world’s bestseller.
The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life
What is the Bible and how is it relevant to me? This book is the perfect read for anyone asking those questions in the 21st century. The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life helps readers see how the narratives and themes of the Bible connect to their own lives.
Read the Bible 
Processing...