Keraia
Places

Rome

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire, where Paul was imprisoned and wrote several epistles.

The name Rome means “strength; power”

PlaceNew Testament9 books37 verses

Summary

A location first mentioned at John 11:48; referred to as Rome or Roman (Ῥωμαῖος), Rome (Ῥώμη), or Roman colony (κολωνία).

Profile

In the first century AD, Rome was a diverse city and a powerful empire. It brought peace and stability to the Mediterranean region.

The Founding and Early Growth of Rome

According to tradition, Rome was founded in 753 BC on the Tiber River in Italy by a Latin-speaking farming tribe. The earliest Senate was a group of chieftains.

Around 600 BC, the Etruscans from central Italy invaded Rome and became its rulers. They built many structures, including the forum. The forum became the city's social, commercial, and political center. They also built a temple for the Roman gods Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. Roads now connected Rome to the Etruscans in the north, the Greek trading cities in the south, the sea to the west, and the inland highlands to the east.

The Roman Republic

When Rome's kings became too controlling, the Latin people rebelled. In 509 BC, Rome formed a "republic." Rome's republic was an oligarchy (a form of government in which a small number of people have power). Powerful families controlled the Senate (Rome's governing council). The small city-state gradually gained control of the region, spreading their influence across the Mediterranean. In 273 BC, they made a treaty with the Ptolemies of Egypt. They expanded into North Africa, defeating the rival city-state Carthage during the three Punic Wars from 264 to 146 BC, and then moved into Spain. Rome's many conquests brought great wealth.

As Italy expanded geographically, social changes occurred. Between 200 and 100 BC, wealthy landowners purchased land from small independent farmers. These farmers then moved to Rome, becoming landless and unemployed. Next to areas of great wealth and beautiful buildings, many poor people lived crowded together in terrible conditions. More and more people became unhappy with how Rome was being ruled, which made the government grow weaker.

The Beginning of the Empire: Julius and Octavian

During a time of social and political change, Julius Caesar aimed to centralize power. Senators who supported the old republic assassinated him in 44 BC. However, their plan failed. Julius's grandnephew and heir, Octavian, became a senator, consul, and commander-in-chief in 43 BC with Senate support. The Senate declared Julius a god in 42 BC. After Octavian defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC and took control of Egypt, the Senate gave him the titles Augustus (meaning "illustrious") and Princeps (meaning "first citizen") in 27 BC. Octavian started calling himself "son of a god" because people had declared Julius Caesar to be a god after his death. While Rome kept its old forms of government, a new system had actually begun. Emperors were treated as divine (like gods).

Jesus and the Birth of the Church

“When the time had fully come, God sent his Son” (Galatians 4:4). The change into an empire brought peace and stability, known as pax Romana (“Roman peace”). This peace lasted into the 100s AD. Many have noted that Roman rule in the first century AD was ideal for spreading Christianity. The borders were secure, and the roads were good, making travel easy. Roman laws and customs protected citizens' rights (see, for example, Acts 16:35–40; 22:24–29). Judaism was protected, and Romans saw Christianity as a Jewish sect (see, for example, Acts 25:13–19). Thus, Romans often dismissed complaints against Christians based on religion (see, for example, Acts 19:23–41). Christians could freely share the good news about Jesus, and many people from various backgrounds became followers of Christ.

The Changing Status of Christianity

This favorable situation began to change during Nero's rule. Nero blamed Christians for the fire that destroyed much of Rome in AD 64, leading to the first major persecution of Christians. The open persecution stopped in AD 66, but Christianity was no longer seen as a part of Judaism and lost its protected status. Later, the empire required people to burn incense to the emperor. Those who refused were usually Jews (who were protected) or Christians (who were not). As a result, from Domitian's time around AD 81 to 96 to Galerius's time, from AD 305 to 311, Christianity was officially illegal, punishable by death, and experienced different levels of persecution based on the leaders' enthusiasm. For over two hundred years, Rome shed “the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus” (Revelation 17:6).

Passages for Further Study

Acts 2:10; 18:2; 19:21; 23:11; 28:14, 16; Romans 1:1–7, 15; 2 Timothy 1:17

Location

Certainty
Widely agreed (100% of scholarship)
Coordinates
41.892° N, 12.485° E
Rome
See it on the map of biblical places

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Rome (City)

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 9 verses that refer to Rome without naming it.

  1. John 11:48
    If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
  2. Acts 2:10
    Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,
  3. Acts 16:12
    From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
  4. Acts 16:21
    …by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
  5. Acts 16:37
    But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
  6. Acts 16:38
    So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
  7. Acts 18:2
    There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,
  8. Acts 19:21
    After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”
  9. Acts 22:25
    But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”
  10. Acts 22:26
    On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
  11. Acts 22:27
    The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
  12. Acts 22:29
    At once those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.
  13. Acts 23:11
    The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
  14. Acts 23:27
    This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
  15. Acts 25:16
    I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
  16. Acts 28:14
    There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.
  17. Acts 28:16
    When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
  18. Acts 28:17
    After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
  19. Acts 28:18Referred to, not named
    They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
  20. Romans 1:6Referred to, not named
    And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
  21. Romans 1:7
    To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  22. Romans 1:8Referred to, not named
    First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
  23. Romans 1:9Referred to, not named
    God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
  24. Romans 1:10Referred to, not named
    …in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
  25. Romans 1:11Referred to, not named
    For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
  26. Romans 1:12Referred to, not named
    …that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
  27. Romans 1:13Referred to, not named
    I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
  28. Romans 1:15
    That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
  29. Romans 9:20Referred to, not named
    But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
  30. Romans 16:27
    …to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
  31. Galatians 6:18
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
  32. Ephesians 6:24
    Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
  33. Philippians 4:23
    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
  34. Colossians 4:18
    This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
  35. 2 Timothy 1:17
    Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
  36. 2 Timothy 4:22
    The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
  37. Philemon 1:25
    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.