Paul and the Roman Authorities

The book of Acts tells us how Paul is often arrested by Roman soldiers on his missionary journeys. Being a Roman citizen, however, he is always released again. In the end, Paul opts to defend himself before Caesar in Rome.

In his letters, Paul writes that this world is not important. The important thing is the future world, the Kingdom of God. As long as this world exists, however, according to Paul we must obey the leaders of this world.

According to Acts, Paul meets with a great deal of opposition on his missionary journeys. His message often leads to disturbances among the people. The result of this is that Paul is then arrested by Roman soldiers and imprisoned.
But Paul is a Roman citizen and this gives him certain rights. Since, by Roman law, Paul has done nothing wrong, he is always released again (Acts 16:35-39; Acts 22:22-29; Acts 23:27; Acts 25:16).

At the end of his third missionary journey Paul is arrested by the Romans in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36). Because he is afraid that he will be murdered somewhere in Israel, he asks if he may go to Rome. He wants the emperor to adjudicate his case in Rome (Acts 25:1-22; Acts 26:32; Acts 28:19).

Paul is convinced that God determines everything in this world. Even the leaders of this world are appointed by God. So people must obey them (Romans 13:1-7).
Paul himself does not oppose the Roman authorities either. He is not politically active. He knows that the Roman authorities will soon disappear when God puts an end to this world.
This world will very soon pass away and those in power on earth will then disappear for ever. Christians look forward to a new world, a world in which God and Jesus Christ have all power (1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28).