Unity Church of Tucson

by Mary Ellen Swartz

The possible sequence of events in the life of the man known as the Apostle Paul began in the earlier issues of Expanding Horizons. We might note that the book of Acts was previously thought by some to be the  historical account of the times. Though this may not be factual, the following information has been handed down through tradition:

59-60 CE: When Paul was in Jerusalem to report on his ministry among the Gentiles apparently he was almost killed by hostile Jews who had heard he was teaching the Gentiles that they could disregard Mosaic law and Jewish customs. He also was accused of defiling the temple by allowing non Jews to enter. All this was considered blasphemy and they demanded his death under Jewish law. Roman soldiers stepped into the situation and took him into custody for questioning and scourging. Because he claimed his right as a Roman citizen to be tried in Rome, he was eventually sent there by ship but on the way there was a shipwreck and they ended up on the islands known as Melita, modern day Malta and Melida, for about three months. It seems Paul gained special honor among the inhabitants when he was bitten by a viper and when he did not die as expected, he apparently was thought to be a god. (There are very few trees on Malta now, neither are there any poisonous snakes and this account is only found in the book of Acts.) While there Paul met Publius, whose father was very ill, and prayed and laid hands on him and the man was healed. Reportedly many inhabitants who were ill also came to Paul and many were converted to Christianity. In fact, today Christianity is the accepted religion among the majority of Maltese.

63 CE: Paul finally arrived in Rome under the charge of a centurion and was permitted to occupy his own hired house, under military custody. This was probably due to his being a Roman citizen and as such could not be put in prison without a trial. During the house arrest which apparently lasted two years as he awaited trial before the emperor’s court, it is generally believed that Paul wrote many of his epistles. He also kept in contact with many of the groups he was instrumental in starting, as well as meeting with some of the leading Jews in Rome.

The account given in Acts does not say whether Paul was brought to trial, appeared before Caesar in Rome, if his accusers from Judea ever showed up for a trial, or if the charges were eventually dropped.  But it appears that the house arrest was lifted after two years.  After his release Paul once again began his travels and may have gone to Colosse, Spain, Corinth, Miletus, Troas, Crete, Nicopolis, Philippi, Italy, Judea, Ephesus and Macedonia. He possibly wrote more of his epistles during this time as well.

66-68 CE: During this time Nero was the emperor and Christians were in disfavor and persecutions were occuring. When Rome was burned, it is thought that Nero tried to implicate the Christians. In any event, Christianity was no longer allowed and key leaders were arrested. We do not know for sure what happened, but it seems Paul too was arrested and imprisoned for a second time in Rome. This time he apparently did stand trial.

There is no information as to when or how Paul died but tradition has it that he was beheaded because his Roman citizenship would have exempted him from torture and crucifixion. According to tradition, friends took his body to be buried in subterranean labyrinths of Rome.

 It is an understatement to say that the Apostle Paul has had the greatest impact of anyone on Christianity. For it is Paul’s theology, not the teachings of Jesus, upon which many Christians base their beliefs.

 At the same time Paul was teaching his own theology about Jesus, whom he never physically met, there was yet another group that continued from those who knew Jesus.  We might call this the Jerusalem Church and we will continue our look at them in the next issue of Expanding Horizons.