The commander ordered Paul to appear before the Jewish Sanhedrin. After another uproar, Paul was taken to the barracks by the commander. That night, the Lord stood near Paul and told him to be courageous. In the meantime, a plot developed to kill Paul, but his nephew learned of it and alerted the authorities. In this article, you will learn where Paul had to go in order to ensure his safety and the outcome of this relocation.
The commander made the decision to send Paul to Governor Felix. To make sure that he was safe during his travels, 200 soldiers accompanied him to his destination , along with 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen. Paul rode on horseback, leaving late in the night.
The next city that Paul found himself in was Caesarea, where he was sent as a way to keep him protected from the rebellion against him in Jerusalem. He would spend two years in prison, where he received limited freedoms and privileges. It is mentioned that while Paul was a prisoner, he wrote his epistles to the Colossians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, and to Philemon.
Following the two years that Paul spent imprisoned, a change in Roman leadership took place. Since Paul was a Roman citizen, he appealed his case to Caesar himself. It took a bit of time before Paul actually reached Rome, as he encountered obstacles along the way, such as a storm. When he did, he was placed in what we consider ‘house arrest.’ He was permitted to have his own private lodging, but a Roman solider was constantly guarding his every move.
Three days had passed after his arrival, and he had a meeting with the local Jewish leaders. It was then that he pleaded his case, telling them , “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors” (Acts 28:17). He continued explaining how the Romans had tried him and acquitted him of any wrongdoing, but the protests from Jewish leaders made it necessary for him to plead his case to Caesar. He completed his plea by telling them that he called them together to let them know that the Messiah had come in the person of Jesus Christ (28:18,20).
Paul continued to preach the gospel message , telling anyone who would listen that salvation had come to both Jews and Gentiles. He spent the next two years in his rented home. People came to visit him and he greeted them with open arms , telling them about Jesus Christ. The final verse of Acts states that no one did anything to prevent him from spreading the word.