Rome Burned…Paul Preached…

Rome Burned…Paul Preached…11-14-25

I enjoy reading history. For me, one of the fascinating time periods is the early history when Jesus was crucified and the Christian church began to spread. I read through the New Testament, especially the writings of Paul, and am amazed at how the gospel was spread throughout the land. I think of all the persecution that Christians have had to endure then, and are enduring now in many parts of the world. The persecutions of Nigerians and arrests of Christian pastors in China are current examples.

When Rome burned in July of 64 AD, historians point to many reasons for the fire. In general, most historians blame the poor conditions in the slums of Rome, the overcrowded buildings, lack of firefighting abilities, and even strong winds for the eventual fire that left 10 of the 14 districts in ruins. Fires were not uncommon in Rome. However, the most infamous story is that Nero himself had the fires started in order to build his "Neropolis" palace expansion which the Roman Senate did not want. Thus was born the famous phrase, "Nero fiddled while Rome burned." Although fiddles did not exist then, and Nero was many miles away, the eventual blame was placed on Christians who were already a target of Nero.

While Nero persecuted Christians, another Roman, Paul, was preaching the gospel. Paul spent the first part of his life persecuting Christians. We know the story of his experience on the road to Damascus, where he both saw the light literally and figuratively. Paul devoted his life from that time forward to preaching and furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 is only a partial list of the sufferings of Paul. "Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches."

You see, long before Rome burned, Paul preached. He preached through beatings and floggings. He was stoned, yet he preached. He preached in chains. He was shipwrecked three times, and He preached. He was in the deepest darkest parts of the prison in Rome, and He preached. He was on house arrest, and he preached. He hid from the Jews who sought to kill him, yet he preached. He was arrested again and again, yet he preached. The last time he was arrested, Paul knew his time was coming to an end. Yet, through it all, he preached. I can almost see him in my mind's eye on his way to his beheading, and preaching the gospel to anyone and everyone who would listen. Paul preached because that is what God called him to do. He preached because there were people yet to be saved.

There are many similarities to then and now. The world is figuratively on fire, yet the gospel is preached. Pastors and Christians are persecuted, yet the gospel is preached. People are dying and going to heaven; yet before they die, they are preaching. All this, because that is what God called us to do. He called us to"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature", March 16:15. We preach because there are still people who need to hear the gospel. There are still souls to be saved. Christ has not come, and we will be like Paul, while the world burns, we will preach.