Back from Rome . . . with Lessons

Cathy and I enjoyed a trip to Rome this summer with Insight for Living. We saw the standard sites of tourists—the Trevi Fountain, the Forum, the Colosseum, the Catacombs—and innumerable other historic sites that lay alongside modern streets and buildings.

But what moved me most was a place most folks never see—and another place that wasn’t even on the map.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans of his plans to see them: "I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain —for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while" (Romans 15:23-24).

To be sure, Paul would go to Rome—but not like he thought he would.

He went as a prisoner in chains. Acts 27-28 tells us the story. Arrested in Jerusalem, imprisoned at Caesarea for two years, Paul appealed to Caesar and suffered a shipwreck on his way to Rome as a prisoner.

After two years, Paul was released from his imprisonment, after which he traveled and wrote two more epistles before his final Roman imprisonment.

One of the most meaningful places we visited was the Mamertine Prison (see picture above), where Paul wrote these words to Timothy:

I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. —2 Timothy 4:6–8

Tradition tells us that Paul was martyred outside the walls of Rome at a place most folks have never heard of—a place not on the tourist maps of Rome.

Called Tres Fontane (“Three Fountains”) because, after Paul’s head was cut off, it bounced three times and three fountains sprung up! Laughable, I know. (You can listen below to an iPhone recording I made of one of the fountains.) But while the fountain story is apocryphal, the location of his death is historical.

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs relates Paul’s martyrdom as follows:

Paul, the apostle, who before was called Saul, after his great travail and unspeakable labors in promoting the Gospel of Christ, suffered also in this first persecution under Nero. Abdias, declareth that under his execution Nero sent two of his esquires, Ferega and Parthemius, to bring him word of his death. They, coming to Paul instructing the people, desired him to pray for them, that they might believe; who told them that shortly after they should believe and be baptised at His sepulcher. This done, the soldiers came and led him out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers made, gave his neck to the sword.

Strange how God will give a dream and a passion and we head off towards it. We expect that we'll go by means of A-B-C, but God often gets us there by means of 10-9-8.

We can expect the same as Paul. We dream, but we should not put God in a box in regard to His method. He will fulfill His purposes, but He will do it His way.

So do dream of how you can serve the Lord in the future. Have long-term plans for a life of faithfulness and fruitfulness. But be ready and willing for God to redirect.

Because He most certainly will.



(Don't expect too much . . . but here's the recording of one of the fountains, inside the chapel, near the marble relief at left:)