Q. Why was the apostle Paul frequently in PRISON? When and how long was he a PRISONER? A. The Apostles where hated by most of the Jews because they openly and publically taught that Jesus was the Son of God. The Jews thought this was blasphemy against God. Paul himself felt the same way before he was converted. He persecuted and jailed many Christians. The Christians were afraid of Paul after his conversion because they didn't believe that he was converted. They remembered how he had treated their Christian brethren in the past. The more zealous a Jew was about their belief in God, the more they hated the Apostles. Consequently, the Apostles were persecuted and jailed more than most people. "Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 'Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.' " (Acts 5:17-20, NKJV) Paul and the other Apostles were beaten, imprisoned and killed for their beliefs. Christ told them "no man is greater than his master" (John 13:16), and He also said, to paraphrase, "they would drink out of His cup." In both statements, He was telling them they would be persecuted and killed as He was. In God's Kingdom they will receive their rewards. How LONG was Paul in prison?While the exact time and duration of when the Apostle Paul was in prison or a prisoner can vary depending on which commentary or reference work is used, one of the most recent studies in this area states: |
