New Testament History

The imprisonment and the release

Paul was arrested seven days after his arrival in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27) and taken to Caesarea. Felix heard Paul’s case five days later (Acts 24:1), i.e. 12 days after Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem (Acts 24:11). When Paul had been in prison for two years, Nero replaced Felix by Festus (Acts 24:27).[1] The Greek verb plêrôtheisês implies that they were two complete years: from Pentecost 54 AD until Pentecost 56 AD. Festus heard Paul promptly after his arrival in Judea (Acts 25:1-12), in the summer of 56 AD. Some days later (Acts 25:13, 23), Agrippa II also heard Paul (Acts 25:23-26:32). Paul appealed to the emperor (Acts 25:11-12, 21, 25; 26:32; 28:19) and therefore was to be brought to Rome. He left Caesarea for Rome around the Day of Atonement (Acts 27:9), in the autumn of 56 AD. He passed by Crete (Acts 27:8). When he landed at Fair Havens, “navigation was already hazardous, since it was now well after the time of the Fast” (Acts 27:9, trans. NJB). Since Julius Caesar sets the limit for sailing at the autumnal equinox,[2] the fast of 10 Tishri fell after the equinox in that year, i.e. in late September or early October. This is consistent with the facts that Paul reached Malta 14 days (Acts 27:27) after he had left Fair Havens (Acts 27:13) and stayed there for three months (Acts 28:11), in the winter (Acts 27:12; 28:11) of 56/57 AD. Since he could leave Malta at the earliest on 8 February,[3] he reached Malta around early November and left Fair Havens around mid-October. The fast of 10 Tishri thus did not fall before the first week of October. 10 Tishri 56 AD fell on Saturday 9 October (Parker and Dubberstein).[4]

Paul reached Italy (Acts 28:13) in the spring of 57 AD. He lived for two whole years at his own expense (Acts 28:30), from the spring of 57 AD until the spring of 59 AD,[5] and was then released.[6] He had stood before the emperor (Acts 27:24), Nero. He still visited Crete (Titus 1:5), Nicopolis (Titus 3:12, during a winter), Macedonia (1 Tim 1:3), Ephesus (1 Tim 3:14; 4:13), Alexandria Troas (2 Tim 4:13), and Miletus (2 Tim 4:20). Paul was martyred on 26 June 68 AD and buried on 29 June 68 AD.