Two years in Rome
Early Church · Draft · BSB
Content revision: 74c7fde5ba8edb1b · No editorial review date recorded
Date: c. AD 59–62
Paul calls together the Jewish leaders of Rome and explains his case; some are persuaded and others are not. For two whole years he stays in his own rented house, welcoming all who come to him and proclaiming the kingdom of God with all boldness and without hindrance.
Acts ends here. Many think Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and Ephesians were written during this imprisonment.
Primary Scripture
28:17 After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
28:18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
28:19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.
28:20 So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
28:21 The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.
28:22 But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
28:23 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
28:24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
28:25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
28:26 ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
28:27 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
28:28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
28:29 Not included in this translation; its manuscript tradition omits this verse.
28:30 Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.
28:31 Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Location evidence
Event map marker: Identified site; [longitude, latitude] = [12.48333, 41.9]. This is a teaching marker, not an exact event venue.
Rome: Identified site. Coordinates [longitude, latitude]: [12.48333, 41.9]. Classification source: rule.
Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire
Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire
Interpretation and reuse
Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.
Record source: theographic (385)
Record source: editorial
Events and places adapted from Theographic Bible Metadata (github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata), CC BY-SA 4.0. This adapted data is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm