https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/LastYearsOfPaulsLife.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Philippians 2:17-30<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. Paul had written the Roman brethren that he would like to go to Spain after seeing them –\nRomans 15:23-25, 28\n
A. Things didn’t go quite as Paul planned. <\/p>\n B. After going to Jerusalem, he was arrested, but he did go to Rome – as a prisoner\ninstead of a free man The book of Acts ends before Paul’s life ended\n C. Near the end of Acts, Paul is arrested and held several years in Caesarea while\nFelix waited for a bribe that never came – Acts 24:26-27\n D. When threatened with being taken to Jerusalem, where he would likely be\nassassinated, Paul finally used his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to\nCaesar – Acts 25:10-11\n
E. Even though Paul was sent as a prisoner to Rome, he did not travel alone<\/p>\n
1. Notice the use of “we,” indicating that Luke traveled with Paul – Acts 27:1<\/p>\n
2. Be aware that we are not told how many traveled with Paul and Luke<\/p>\n
F. They land in Crete – Acts 27:8<\/p>\n
1. Notice that the stay is not a short one – Acts 27:9<\/p>\n 2. We don’t know how long they stayed, just that considerable time passed as\nthey waited for favorable winds\n G. Eventually they set sail only to be caught up in storm that eventually leaves them\nshipwrecked on the island of Malta.\n 1. After three months, after the storm season passed, the journey was\ncontinued to Rome – Acts 28:11\n H. Paul is placed under house arrest for two years, and that is where the book of Acts\nends\n
II. So what is the rest of the story? What happened to Paul?<\/p>\n A. It isn’t that we don’t know, but we have to piece the story from the various letters\nPaul wrote.\n B. There are at least four letters written by Paul during his time under arrest:\nEphesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.\n
1. Ephesians 3:1; 6:20<\/p>\n
2. Philippians 1:7<\/p>\n
3. Philemon 1:1, 10<\/p>\n
C. There were probably five, if you accept that Hebrews is also a letter by Paul.<\/p>\n
1. It was written from Italy – Hebrews 13:24<\/p>\n
2. The author was in prison – Hebrews 10:32-34<\/p>\n
3. He mentions that Timothy was recently freed – Hebrews 13:23<\/p>\n a. The word apoluo<\/i> means to be released, such as from prison or\nfrom an obligation.\n b. We know that Timothy spent time with Paul while Paul was in\nprison – Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1\n
c. Paul had planned to send Timothy to Philippi – Philippians 2:19<\/p>\n 4. Paul states that he signs all his letters in a similar fashion – II\nThessalonians 3:17-18.\n a. You can find a similar worded verse near the end of all of Paul’s\nletters\n
b. Compare to Hebrews 13:25<\/p>\n
5. Finally Hebrews was typically included in manuscripts of Paul’s letters.<\/p>\n a. “ It is also worthy of note that in several of the early Greek\nmanuscripts this epistle is located, not after Philemon as in our\nBibles, but grouped among the other Pauline epistles, thereby\nrevealing that those who arranged the manuscripts considered\nHebrews to be of Pauline origin” [Dr. W. Gary Crampton,\n“Hebrews: Who Is the Author?”]\n b. “Next come the 14 epistles of Paul … The Book of Hebrews is\nplaced after Second Thessalonians and before First Timothy. Then\nafterward we have what are known as the Pastoral Epistles given to\npastors or evangelists, all individuals: Timothy, Titus, Philemon\nand then last of all is the great prophetic book of Revelation. The\nposition of Hebrews in the vast majority of official manuscripts\nshows it in the midst of the epistles of Paul” [Ernest L. Martin,\nPh.D., “The Book of Hebrews”].\n
D. Paul’s plans<\/p>\n 1. Paul wondered if it was time for his departure from this world, but there\nwas much to accomplish – Philippians 1:7,12-14,21-24\n
2. But notice Paul’s confidence – Philippians 1:25<\/p>\n
3. He plans to come to Philippi again – Philippians 1:26<\/p>\n 4. Timothy would be sent to Philippi and Paul would follow shortly himself –\nPhilippians 2:19,23-24\n
5. Philemon was told to have a room ready for Paul – Philemon 22<\/p>\n 6. The writer of Hebrews hoped to be restored to the brethren soon and that\nhe would visit them with Timothy – Hebrews 13:19,23\n
E. However, take note that Luke tells us that Paul waited two years for his trial. <\/p>\n
1. That means Luke knew that his house arrested ended.<\/p>\n F. Paul looks back and talks about his first defense and his deliverance – II Timothy\n4:16-17\n
III. After Paul’s release<\/p>\n
A. Titus was left in Crete – Titus 1:4-5<\/p>\n
B. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus while journeying to Macedonia – I Timothy 1:3<\/p>\n
C. He plans to join Timothy there – I Timothy 4:13<\/p>\n
D. Paul plans to winter in Nicopolis (on the western edge of Greece) – Titus 3:12<\/p>\n
1. Paul is already there and wants Titus to join him there.<\/p>\n 2. Either Artemas or Tychicus would be sent to either take over in Crete or\nbe Titus’ traveling companion\n E. Some early Christian writers, while not inspired, do mention that Paul was\nreleased by Caesar, traveled two years in Spain, and was arrested again.\n 1. “By reason of jealousy and strife Paul by his example pointed out the prize\nof patient endurance. After that he had been seven times in bonds, had\nbeen driven into exile, had been stoned, had preached in the East and in\nthe West, he won the noble renown which was the reward of his faith,\nhaving taught righteousness unto the whole world and having reached the\nfarthest bounds of the West; and when he had borne his testimony before\nthe rulers, so he departed from the world and went unto the holy place,\nhaving been found a notable pattern of patient endurance.” [Clement of\nRome, I Clement 5:5-6]\n 2. “Moreover, the acts of all the apostles were written in one book. For ‘most\nexcellent Theophilus’ Luke compiled the individual events that took place\nin his presence — as he plainly shows by omitting the martyrdom of Peter \nas well as the departure of Paul from the city [of Rome] when he\njourneyed to Spain. As for the Epistles of Paul, they themselves make\nclear to those desiring to understand, which ones [they are], from what\nplace, or for what reason they were sent” [Muratorian Canon, 34-40]\n
F. Nicopolis would have been a good spot to begin a journey to Spain.<\/p>\n
IV. II Timothy was then written during Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome<\/p>\n
A. Paul is in prison – II Timothy 1:8<\/p>\n
B. He is looking at the end of his life – II Timothy 4:6-8<\/p>\n C. He asks for Timothy to come to him, so Timothy is not there this time – II\nTimothy 4:9-12\n
D. He mentions having left a cloak and books in Troas – II Timothy 4:13<\/p>\n
1. Indicating that it wasn’t long since he was last in Troas<\/p>\n
2. He wants Timothy to reach him before winter – II Timothy 4:21<\/p>\n 3. There is a urgency, not just because of the approaching winter but perhaps\na knowledge that he won’t be around much longer\n E. Note the greetings from the local brethren to Timothy – all are Roman names – II\nTimothy 4:21\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:17-30 I. Paul had written the Roman brethren that he would like to go to Spain after seeing them – Romans 15:23-25, 28 A. Things didn’t go quite as Paul planned. B. After going to Jerusalem, he was arrested, but he did go to Rome – as a prisoner instead of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[279,118],"class_list":["post-51921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-history","tag-paul"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":91726,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/boasting-of-his-weakness\/","url_meta":{"origin":51921,"position":0},"title":"Boasting of His Weakness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Corinthians 12:1-10 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0False teachers of the Jewish persuasion had entered the congregation in Corinth \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They wanted to convince the brethren that they had to follow the Law of Moses to be acceptable to God. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The problem was dealing with Paul. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58868,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-prosperous-journey\/","url_meta":{"origin":51921,"position":1},"title":"A Prosperous Journey","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 8, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Walton Weaver via\u00a0Truth Magazine\u00a0Vol. XLIV: 10 p19 May 18, 2000 Paul had a great desire to go to Rome. He knew however that if such an opportunity presented itself, God would have to open up the way. His prayer that God might do this for him is given to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63239,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/pauls-imprisonment\/","url_meta":{"origin":51921,"position":2},"title":"Paul’s Imprisonment","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 10, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:17-30 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We all have a tendency to make assumptions about what does not appear \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Those assumptions help us to organize what we do know \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We do this whether we are trying to determine why someone walked by without saying \u201cHi!\u201d or when we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63537,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/taking-courage\/","url_meta":{"origin":51921,"position":3},"title":"Taking Courage","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 28:1-16 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Suppose your boss never gave you any feedback concerning your job. You come in, do your job and leave, but you never hear a word of criticism or praise. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It almost sounds like the ideal job. But I think most people would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6914,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-did-paul-say-he-left-titus-in-crete\/","url_meta":{"origin":51921,"position":4},"title":"Why did Paul say he left Titus in Crete?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 16, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I just discovered your website after searching the Internet for \u201cPaul\u2019s letter to the Laodiceans\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Your explanation\u00a0is very interesting and has merit.\u00a0 Thank you for providing answers to so many questions that arise from time to time. Now that I think about it, I have a question:\u00a0 How do you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21269,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-hard-times-come\/","url_meta":{"origin":51921,"position":5},"title":"When Hard Times Come","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:12-14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Life often goes in different in directions from what we expect. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It had long been Paul\u2019s desire to go to Rome to preach the Gospel - Acts 19:21 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It seemed though that something always came up which kept him from reaching his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51921"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51921\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}