Paul and Caesar: The Bible’s glaring omission
If the Acts of the Apostles had “acts,” like in a drama, the final act would be Paul’s voyage to Rome.
And if the final act had a climax, you would think it would be the meeting between Paul and Caesar — the Lord’s most prominent apostle and the most powerful man in the known world (who at the time was Nero). You’d think that would be the most important story of the book.
We know that such a meeting took place. When Paul was on trial before the Roman governor Festus in Caesarea, he appealed to Caesar rather than be sent to Jerusalem, where his Jewish enemies awaited to ambush him. “You have appealed to Caesar?” Festus answered. “To Caesar you shall go!” (Acts 25:12). During the perilous voyage to Rome on the stormy Mediterranean, an angel reassured Paul by telling him, “you must be brought before Caesar” (Acts 27:24).
Many Christians would see Paul’s appearance before the emperor as his ultimate act of evangelism. We have to get Caesar! Caesar’s the key to everything! He’ll make Christianity great! All other plans would revolve around him; all roads lead to Rome, as the saying goes.
This is because they believe the head of a nation, especially the supreme leader of the world’s most powerful empire, holds a federal spiritual significance, as if the nation’s standing before God hinges on him. As if his office means he represents his people before God (or vice versa). This is presumably because of the Old Testament’s focus on Israel’s judges and kings, and whether they did good or evil. Such Christians seem obsessed with political power and whether the nation is “Christian.”
Related: Why God no longer works through nation-states
Who mattered in Rome
So what transpired between Paul and Caesar? What was said? We don’t know, because the Bible says … nothing. Not a word. Neither in Acts nor in any of Paul’s letters, including the epistles to Timothy and Titus, believed to have been written after his release in Rome. The Lord didn’t think it was significant enough to include in His word.
What’s even more surprising is who does appear in Scripture. Paul’s letter to the Philippians was written from Rome, and he speaks of some there who were impacted by his ministry:
1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
4:22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
So while we don’t hear about Caesar — Philippians 4:22 is the only time that title is mentioned in any epistle — we do hear about Caesar’s guards and servants. The gospel came to Rome not for him, but for them, as well as “all who came to” Paul (Acts 28:30). It made no difference to him or to God.
This may be shocking to some Christians, but it shouldn’t be. It’s entirely consistent with the rest of Acts and the New Testament. The apostles never targeted the powerful or elite. They never instructed future Christians to do that. They never even set foot in the halls of government unless they were compelled to. After decades of Paul’s gospel ministry, Caesar came last.
The state was always against them, yet they turned the world upside down through the grassroots. Not from the top down, but from the bottom up. Through preaching Christ to common, ordinary people. That’s what we read about all throughout Acts.
Our true power
The New Testament church didn’t need the world’s power; unlike the Israelites of the Old Testament, they had the outpoured Holy Spirit and the gospel, which are more powerful than all the nations the world has ever seen combined.
This is not to say we shouldn’t care about government leaders at all. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2 to pray for all who are in authority — because God desires all kinds of men to be saved. The Lord wants them because they’re people, not because they’re leaders. They’re not excluded, but they hold no higher place before God than anyone else. The souls of Caesar’s servants are worth as much to God as Caesar himself.
As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, if God does target certain classes of people, it’s the lowly and the weak, not the strong and mighty. That way, we know the church’s sole power is God Himself, and He alone is glorified.
Related: We want power and winning. God wants losers.
So when we today focus our attention on the White House or any other center of the world’s authority, we’re forsaking the examples of Scripture. We’re forsaking the power the Lord has given us — since, as He said in Matthew 28:18, He already has all authority in heaven and on earth. He doesn’t need any more.
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