There is considerable debate about the final years of Paul’s life after the close of Acts. The most accepted theory is that after two years of house arrest, Paul was released and allowed to travel again. During this fourth missionary journey (as some have called it), Paul traveled throughout the Mediterranean:
- Macedonia (1 Tim. 1:3)
- Troas (2 Tim. 4:13)
- Miletus (2 Tim. 4:20)
- Crete (Titus 1:5)
- Nicopolis (Titus 3:12)
- Possibly Spain. (The early church father Clement asserted that Paul did fulfill his desire to go to Spain, expressed in Romans 15:28, but whether the visit actually took place is still uncertain.)
Eventually, Paul went back to Rome, but it may not have been voluntary. It has been suggested that Paul was arrested while in Nicopolis, but the evidence is uncertain. What we do know is that by the time Paul returned to Rome, the widespread persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero had already begun. It’s entirely possible that by this time, the apostle Peter had been martyred in Rome. Paul’s imprisonment this time was not house arrest. Rather, it is believed to have been in the cold, infamous Mamertine Prison, where Peter might also have been held.
We do have some information about Paul’s final days based on Paul’s last letter to Timothy. From this very personal, heartfelt letter, we know that Paul was visited by Onesiphorus, who “often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” (2 Tim. 1:16–17). But we also know that Paul had been abandoned by many Christians as he faced trial (2 Tim. 4:10, 16). Luke alone was still with Paul, although Paul expressed the hope that he would see John Mark again when Timothy came to visit (2 Tim. 4:11). Historical evidence agrees that Paul was executed in Rome, probably by beheading, sometime between AD 66 and 68. But that did not put an end to his ministry. Through his letters in the New Testament and his detailed story in Acts, Paul still ministers to us today.
This post is from the Rose Guide to the Book of Acts, which is packed with incredible visuals, summaries, and everything you need to know about this fascinating book of the Bible!
Rose Guide to the Book of Acts: Charts, Maps, and Time Lines
With pictures, charts, maps, time lines, and a clear and outlined format, this introduction to the Book of Acts helps you explore the key people, places, and stories of the first Christians and Early Church. Packed with helpful resources, Rose Guide to the Book of Acts includes:
- Overview of Acts: author, date, outline, summary, themes, history
- Life and missionary journeys of the apostle Paul
- A to Z guide of who’s who in the book of Acts
- Maps for Paul’s journeys, Philip’s travels, the world of the first Christians, and more
- Timeline of the early church: AD 1–100
- The Holy Spirit in the life of the Early Church
- And more!
There are hundreds of key people, events, and places within the Book of Acts, so how can you cover all of them in their first century contexts? The Rose Guide to the Book of Acts provides visual aids, charts, maps, and timelines to help you not only understand but see key concepts at a glance! See how the stories in the book of Acts speak to our modern-day church, missionary work, and the spiritual lives of Christians today.
Perfect for individual study, small groups, young adult and youth groups, church libraries, homeschool, and more!
