The acts of the apostles ends about A.D. 61-62 with Paul imprisoned in Rome. During the two years under house arrest, he taught all who came to him about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. He was able to do so with no man forbidding him (Acts 28:30-31).
The Bible’s historical record of Paul’s great work ends at this point. The following remarks are not entirely conjectural, however. Paul’s letters to the Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon, along with comments by the early Christian writer Clement in A.D. 96, suggest Paul was released from prison and traveled again, perhaps as far as Spain [see extensive comments in the Westminster Bible Dictionary article on “”Paul”]. He then experienced a second imprisonment during which time he wrote the second epistle to Timothy before finally being executed (beheaded, according to church tradition).
Heresies Paul faced
In the first prison letter, Paul wrote the Colossian ecclesia. The work there had been pioneered by Epaphras who came to Rome with information about some doctrinal problems in the ecclesia. Growing pains were to be expected, of course, as this ecclesia was only about ten years old.
Some of the difficulty was coming from gentile pseudo-intellectuals who combined elements of Greek philosophy and oriental mysticism. They claimed that intuitive human logic was required to obtain spiritual maturity. Thinking of themselves as being very erudite, they sought the privilege of leading the ecclesia (Col. 2:8). Proponents of Jewish legalism were also active. They were insisting that circumcision and maintenance of Jewish festival days and dietary laws were essential to pleasing God (Col. 2:13-23).
Paul’s warnings
Combating these apostate influences, the Colossian letter exhorted the believers to reject the doctrines of men and remain faithful to the gospel message as Paul had proclaimed it. His great desire was “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2,3).
He also warns against being drawn into wrong beliefs by the enticing words of men: “This I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words” (v.4 and cp. vs. 8, 18).
Epaphras
After contacting Paul with news about the Colossian ecclesia, Epaphras remained with Paul. He is termed a fellow prisoner in Colossians 4:13. It is not clear whether he was arrested because of his zeal for the Truth or if he voluntarily remained to aid Paul in his time of difficulty. The prison letters were subsequently sent by Tychicus and Onesimus (Col. 4:7-9; Eph. 6:21).
The Colossian letter concludes with praise of Paul’s co-workers and fellow prisoners: Timothy, Aristarchus, Justus, Epaphras, Demas and the beloved physician, Luke (Col. 4:718).
The Ephesian letter
This epistle bears marked similarities to the one to Colosse. Many of the same topics are covered, with more information supplied about some and less about others reflecting the different needs of the two areas. Major emphasis is placed on the blessings we have in Christ through grace, and again the point is stressed that we are saved by grace through faith, not by law keeping.
The letter indicates a high degree of spirituality existed among the recipients who were expected to read and understand it. Doctrinal guidance is combined with exhortation in family, marital, personal and ecclesial affairs.
To get maximum benefit from either of these epistles, they should be read in one sitting.
Paul is released
From all indications, Paul was released from his house arrest toward the end of A.D. 62 [this date could be off by a year or two which would affect the following dates, ed.]. Then, in the spring of A.D. 63, accompanied by Timothy, he resumed his work among the ecclesias (cp. I Tim. 1:3).
Leaving Timothy to work with the ecclesia at Ephesus, he continued on to Macedonia. While there, he sent Titus to Crete to organize the fledgling ecclesias on that island while he wintered at Nicopolis of Macedonia (Titus 1:5; 3:12). I Timothy and Titus were probably written during this winter of A.D. 63-64.
One early church historian, Chrysostom, claims that Paul went to Spain during the spring of A.D. 64. The tradition has it that his work there was cut short by the Neronian persecutions at Rome in A.D. 64. Hearing of these, Paul returned to Rome to assist the brethren in their hour of extreme trial. His ability to help was cut short because of his own arrest.
After receiving two hearings by the court, he was condemned to die. II Timothy 4:6-16 records his last days in prison awaiting execution. In these circumstances, he wrote: “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (II Tim. 4:6-8).
The end
Shortly afterward, the life of a remarkable disciple of our Lord came to an end. His letters shine as beacons of truth and hope down through the ages to these last days. We owe a debt of gratitude to all the apostles for their faithful work and to the saints of all following generations.
Now Paul is at rest. Soon, however, he will hear the voice of the Master and will come forth to receive the gift of eternal life.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One