St. Paul’s Journey to Rome and his Death

Instead of returning to Antioch Paul goes to Jerusalem. There he is rescued from a Jewish mob by the Romans who are concerned that he is a Roman citizen, but they take him before the Sanhedrin. There Paul causes consternation by revealing he is a Pharisee. That night he receives a vision that he is to go to witness at Rome. Following a plot to kill him, Paul is sent to the Roman Governor Felix at Caesarea. After two years of indecision by Felix, Paul exercises his right before the new Governor, Festus, for trial at Rome. After an eventful voyage and shipwreck on Malta, Paul finally arrives at Rome c.61AD. Acts 28 states he spent two years in his own lodgings there, but says no more about him. Clement of Rome states Paul made a journey west and he may have visited Spain (as he intended Rm.12) while 2 Timothy implies another journey to the eastern churches where he may have been re-arrested. According to Eusebius, the early Church historian, Paul was executed by Nero in Rome c.67AD