Rome

And so we came to Rome. The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they travelled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. (Acts 28:14-16)

Rome was the most famous city of the ancient world, synonymous with both power and empire. Situated on the Tiber River, about 30 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea, the first settlement was on the Palatine Hill and has been dated from 753 B.C. The city gradually expanded to cover the seven surrounding hills: Anentine, Capital, Caelian, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal and Viminal. Rome began as a monarchy ruled by kings from 753-510 B.C. It then became a Republic until 31 B.C. when Caesar Augustus was appointed the first emperor of the Roman Empire.

It was during the reign of Caesar Augustus that a census was held in Judea requiring Mary and Joseph to journey from Galilee to register in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The public ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus took place during the reign of Tiberius who succeeded Augustus. The missionary expansion of the Acts of the Apostles occurred during the reign of Claudius, and the martydom of Peter and Paul under the emperor Nero.

In the first century AD, Rome was the largest city in the world with a population exceeding one million, most of whom were slaves or plebeians. Roman citizens enjoyed 159 holidays a year, 93 of which were dedicated to sport, chariot races, games and performances sponsored by the government. The Circus Maximus, for example, could seat 200,000 people. At its height Rome contained 254 mills, 190 grain silos, 8 bridges, 8 great squares, 11 forums, 36 triumphal arches, 1,152 fountains, 28 public libraries, 2 circuses, 2 amphitheatres, 3 theatres, 11 hot spring baths and 865 private bath houses. About an eighth of the city was also laid out as beautiful parks and gardens.

Religion in Rome was essentially polytheistic. Augustus, for example, restored 82 temples in the city. Mystery religions such as Mithraism and the veneration of Cybele and Isis were popular. As the Empire grew, it became common for the gods of the conquered cities to be invited to reside in Rome in order to bring greater blessing to the capital. Besides the traditional gods of Rome, the emperor became the focus of the Empire, regarded as semi-divine while alive and achieving the status of god when dead. The imposition of the Imperial cult, the worship of the Emperor, became a test of loyalty to the Empire. It was because Jews and Christians refused to worship the emperor, as at Pergamum, that they came to be seen as atheists and a threat to the State (Revelation 2:13).

Priscilla and Aquila, who became co-workers with Paul in Corinth, were among the Jews expelled from Rome by the emperor Claudius in 49 AD. This indicates that by this time, there was already a church in the capital although the Roman authorities did not yet appear to distinguish between Christians and Jews (Acts 18:2).

In Paul's letter to the church in Rome, written about 57 AD, he expressed his desire to visit them on one of his missionary journeys perhaps on route to Spain (Romans 15:24). Paul did indeed visit Rome three years later, but as a prisoner. Paul had appealed to Caesar during his trial before Festus the Roman Governor of Judea at Caesarea. Paul had been born a Roman citizen and therefore had the right to have his case heard by the Emperor in Rome (Acts 22:28). Paul was confident that he and the Christian community would be vindicated from all charges brought by the Jewish authorities (Acts 25). When Paul landed at Puteoli, believers from Rome travelled as far as the Forum of Appius, about 70 kilometres from Rome, to welcome him. Others met them at the Three Taverns, about 55 kilometres away, to escort Paul the remainder of the journey (Acts 28:13-15).

The Book of Acts closes, confidently, with Paul in Rome, renting his own living quarters with a soldier to guard him. For two years he awaited his trial, free to receive visitors and proclaim, unhindered, the good news of the gospel at the heart of the Roman Empire (Acts 28:16-31). In his letter to the Philippians, probably written from Rome around 61 AD, Paul gave some indication of the fruitfulness of his ministry, "All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household" (Philippians 4:22).

Following the disastrous fire, however, which destroyed over two thirds of Rome in 64 AD, Nero laid the blame on the Christians and began to persecute them mercilessly. It became a criminal offence to be a Christian. By the time John wrote the Book of Revelation, apostate Babylon became a euphemism for Rome, and was seen as deserving divine judgement (Revelation 17-18). The reference to the 'seven hills' was commonly understood by contemporary writers to refer to Rome (Revelation 17:9). Only Rome could be described as "the great city that rules over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 17:18). Rome had indeed become drunk with, "the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus" (Revelation 17:6).

In his last epistle, probably written from the notorious Marmertine Prison, Paul describes his trial. He foresees his impending death yet remains unshaken in his faith in God's sovereign purposes.

"At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (2 Timothy 4:16-18).

Both Peter and Paul were among the many unknown Christians martyred in Rome over the next 250 years before the eventual conversion of the Roman Empire under Constantine. Jesus had taught that the best way to defeat an enemy is to turn him into a friend. Paul himself had initially been an enemy of Christ and became his friend (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21-22). Through Paul and the small groups of believers persecuted and scattered across the vast Roman Empire, the Lord Jesus transformed the entire world. The blood of the martyrs was indeed the seed of the church.