Footsteps #432. Luke’s biography of Paul in the book of Acts has now run out and for the remainder of the story, we must glean from his own account and from extra-Biblical sources. Sometime in AD 63, Nero, contrary to his own character had declared Paul innocent. Paul’s bonds were removed and he was again a free man. The only clue we have to this short freedom is what we have already noticed in our review of 1Timothy and Titus which he wrote during this time. Paul had long planned to go to Spain and preach the gospel, but it is doubtful whether he ever got there. 

Paul’s work among the churches after his acquittal at Rome, could not escape the observation of his enemies. After the burning of Rome (AD 64) and the subsequent persecution under Nero, the Christians had everywhere been a prohibited sect. After a time, the unbelieving Jews conceived the idea of fastening upon Paul the crime of instigating the burning of Rome. 

Paul was again arrested. We assume this happened in Troas because of the apparent hasty and involuntary departure from the house of Carpus, where he left his precious books and cloak, which he later asked Timothy to bring. He, it seems, was hurried away to his final imprisonment. 

On his second voyage to Rome, Paul was accompanied by several of his former companions; but one by one they moved away or were dispatched to various locations by Paul. Luke alone remained. The prospect before him was far less favourable than at the time of his former imprisonment. The persecution under Nero had greatly lessened the number of Christians in Rome. Thousands had been martyred for their faith, many had left the city, and those who remained would have been greatly depressed and intimidated.

From this imprisonment, we have only one letter – his last. 2 Timothy. This is understandable when we realize the state of the dungeon that Paul was this time hurled into. It was a vaulted room carved from rock and the only light that entered was through the small hole in the roof from where the prisoner was lowered. These are the dungeons where people slept with the prospect of being eaten by starving rats and where Paul spent his time not knowing when his execution would be decided by Nero. Knowing this, for me, makes the second letter to Timothy such a beautiful and encouraging piece of literature when I read what is written there. Paul wrote it because Timothy was discouraged in his ministry and Paul is writing to encourage him. 

It will take you 10 minutes to read the entire letter. As you do so maybe you would like to highlight some of the beautiful verses like 1:8-10, 2:20-22, 3:15-17, 4:2, 4:6-9. 460