As I have been pondering Paul’s time in the city of Rome, I can’t help but wonder what was it like??
The book of Acts ends with: “Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” – Acts28:16
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Acts 28:30-31
We are told nothing more.
However, we can piece together some of what Paul’s time in Rome was like by reading the letters he wrote while confined to home under house arrest.
Paul wrote a letter to the Christians living in the city of Philippi. In the opening of this letter he states: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” – Philippians 1:1
Paul wrote a letter to Philemon, regarding his dear friend and “son” Onesimus. In the opening of this letter he states: “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus and Timothy our brother, to Philemon …” – Philemon 1:1
Paul wrote a letter to the Christians living in the city of Colosse. In the opening of this letter he states: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse.” – Colossians 1:1-2
Timothy was with Paul in Rome … while Paul was chained by Roman guards under house arrest.
I personally found this fact to be fascinating in my own personal study. All my life I have read these books of the Bible and completely missed the significance of these opening greetings. Timothy was in Rome, with Paul.
Who was Timothy??
Timothy was from the town of Lystra. His mother was a Jew, and a follower of Jesus Christ; his father was a Greek. Paul had visited the town of Lystra on his first missionary journey with Barnabas. We do not know if Paul and Timothy met during this visit. But it is quite possible.
During this first visit to Lystra Paul healed a man who had been crippled from birth. As a result, the people of Lystra decided that Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods come down in human form. Timothy probably witnessed all of this.
Ultimately, jealous Jews from nearby cities came and persuaded the people of Lystra to stone Paul to death. This they did, dragging Paul out of town, thinking he was dead. But God spared Paul’s life.
Acts 14:20 states: “But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.” Was Timothy part of this group of disciples who gathered around the almost-dead Paul? Was Timothy there when God gave Paul life and strength to get up and go back into the city? Quite possibly.
Several years later, Paul returned once again to the city of Lystra on his second missionary journey. This time the book of Acts specifically mentions that the Christians of Lystra and of the neighboring city of Iconium spoke well of Timothy. (Acts 16:2) Timothy was highly respected among the community of Jesus-followers, and Paul invited Timothy to join him on his missionary journey. From here on, Timothy traveled with Paul and Silas as they journeyed from town to town preaching Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:6 lets us know: “Paul and his companions [this includes Timothy] traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia.”
“From Troas [Troy] we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia.” – Acts 16:11-12
Timothy was there in Philippi when the slave girl (possessed by an evil spirit) kept following them around day after day after day shouting: “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” – Acts 16:17
Timothy was there when Paul cast the evil spirit out of the slave girl. (Acts 16:18)
Timothy was there when Paul was seized, beaten, and thrown in prison.
When Paul and Silas were singing in the prison of Philippi at midnight, and the earthquake shook the prison, and their chains were released … Timothy was also in the city of Philippi that night. Timothy was probably greatly distressed about what had happened! Timothy no doubt felt the earthquake too!
When the Philippian jailer came to faith in Jesus Christ, and a church was formed at Lydia’s house … Timothy was there.
Traveling south from Philippi down towards Greece … when Paul reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue at Thessalonica, Timothy was there.
When the jealous Jews from Thessalonica stirred up a mob and started a riot because of Paul’s teaching … Timothy was there. (Acts 17:5-9)
When Paul and Silas slipped away secretly at night, and traveled southeast to the town of Berea … Timothy was there travelling with them.
As Paul reasoned in the Jewish synagogue with the people of Berea … Timothy was there. (Acts 17:10-12)
When Paul secretly escaped from Berea to go to Athens, Timothy was left behind at Berea along with Silas … with instructions to join Paul in Athens as soon as possible. (Acts 17:13-15)
Paul was only in Athens for a short time. From Athens Paul continued to the city of Corinth, just south of Athens. Here Timothy and Silas met up with Paul. (Acts 18:5)
Paul stayed in Corinth for some time. (Acts 18:18) It can be assumed that Timothy also stayed in Corinth during this time as well. Timothy probably became good friends with Aquila and Priscilla, whom Paul was living with.
Upon leaving Corinth, Paul traveled across the Aegean Sea to Ephesus … with Aquila and Priscilla accompanying him to Ephesus. We can assume Timothy also accompanied Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla to Ephesus as well. (Acts 18:18-19)
Acts 18:19 states that Paul left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus, while he himself returned back to Israel. My guess is that Timothy remained behind in Ephesus as well.
Timothy was probably there in Ephesus when Apollos showed up, speaking boldly in the synagogue. And Timothy was probably present when Aquila and Priscilla discipled Apollos in their home and explained the way of God more adequately. (Acts 18:24-26)
After spending some time in Caesarea and Antioch (Acts 18:21-22 / we aren’t told how long), Paul took the interior road back across Asia Minor, arriving in Ephesus.
In Acts 19 we read of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” – Acts 19:11-12
Timothy was probably there in Ephesus when these miraculous things were happening.
“After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia [today’s Peloponnesian Peninsula]. ‘After I have been there,’ he said, ‘I must visit Rome also.’ He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.” – Acts 19:21-22
Paul himself then traveled throughout Macedonia as well: “He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece.” (Acts 20:2)
“He [Paul] arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a pot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited for us a Troas.” – Acts 20:2-5
From here on we read about Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, where he was arrested and imprisoned by the Romans. Paul was in prison in Caesarea for two years, from AD 57-59. (Acts 21-26)
Where was Timothy during this time? My personal guess is that Timothy had stayed in Ephesus, possibly as the pastor of the church there, when Paul bid his final farewell to the church leaders of Ephesus. (Acts 20:16-38)
Upon leaving prison in Caesarea, Paul was transferred as a political prisoner to Rome. It was a long and difficult journey to Rome, involving shipwreck along the way. (Acts 27-28) Nothing is mentioned of Timothy.
Paul arrived in Rome in the spring of AD 60. Nothing is mentioned of Timothy.
The book of Acts closes by giving us the information that: “Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” – Acts28:16
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Acts 28:30-31
And yet, in reading the letters which Paul wrote while confined to home under house arrest, we see that Timothy had arrived. Timothy was there in Rome with Paul.
If Paul was paying for his own rented house, my guess is that Timothy might have possibly provided help regarding these finances.
What did Paul eat while under house arrest? Who went to the market and picked up groceries? Perhaps Timothy helped provide food for Paul while under house arrest?
Timothy was a good friend and a great support to Paul while chained by guards and under house arrest in Rome.
Timothy had been with Paul through the highs and the lows. Timothy had seen Paul debate with skill and brilliance. Timothy had seen Paul slandered and accused. Timothy had seen Paul beaten and left for dead. Timothy had seen Paul get back up and keep going!
Timothy had seen Paul’s perseverance! … endurance! … tenacity!
There is a special bond of friendship when you have been with someone through it all. Through the best … and through the worst. Timothy was that kind of friend. And Timothy was there to the end!
