Location
Overview
Rome, the capital of the empire that ruled the New Testament world, became a goal of the apostle Paul and a centre of the early church. "I must also see Rome," he said (Acts 19:21).
Believers in the imperial city
A church existed in Rome before Paul ever arrived; to it he wrote his great letter to the Romans, the fullest statement of the gospel in the New Testament. He longed to visit and strengthen them (Romans 1:11–15).
Paul in Rome
Having appealed to Caesar, Paul was brought to Rome as a prisoner and, though under house arrest, "preached the kingdom of God... no man forbidding him" (Acts 28:16, 30–31). From Rome he wrote several of his prison letters.
Faith under empire
Roman believers lived at the heart of imperial power, and early tradition holds that both Paul and Peter were martyred in the city. Peter writes warmly of the church there under the veiled name "Babylon" (1 Peter 5:13).
Events Here
Claudius expels Jews from Rome; Aquila and Priscilla leave Italy
Paul writes his letter to the believers in Rome
Paul reaches Rome and preaches under house arrest
Scripture References
15 versesActs6 verses
Acts 2:10
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Acts 18:2
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
Acts 19:21
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
Acts 23:11
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Acts 28:14
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
Acts 28:16
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
Romans2 verses
Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:15
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Galatians1 verse
Galatians 6:18
Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Unto the Galatians written from Rome.
Ephesians1 verse
Ephesians 6:24
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.
Philippians1 verse
Philippians 4:23
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. It was written to the Philippians from Rome by Epaphroditus.
Colossians1 verse
Colossians 4:18
The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
2 Timothy2 verses
2 Timothy 1:17
But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
2 Timothy 4:22
The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Philemon1 verse
Philemon 1:25
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.
Archaeology & History
First-century Rome was the largest city in the world, with perhaps a million inhabitants. The historian Suetonius records that the emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome over disturbances "at the instigation of Chrestus" — echoed in Acts 18:2, where Aquila and Priscilla had left Italy for that reason. The catacombs and later basilicas of Rome preserve the memory of the city’s early Christian community and the traditional burial sites of the apostles.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Rome
Where is Rome today?
Today, Rome corresponds to Rome, Italy.
What does the name Rome mean?
The name Rome means “Capital of the Roman Empire”.
What happened at Rome in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Rome include claudius expels jews from rome; aquila and priscilla leave italy; paul writes his letter to the believers in rome; paul reaches rome and preaches under house arrest.
Where is Rome first mentioned in the Bible?
Rome is first mentioned in Acts 2:10.
How often is Rome mentioned in the Bible?
Rome is mentioned in 15 verses across 8 books: Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Philemon.
What is Rome’s significance in the Bible?
It was the capital of the Roman Empire, home to a church Paul addressed in his letter to the Romans, and the city where Paul was imprisoned and, by tradition, where he and Peter were martyred.
Did Paul go to Rome?
Yes. After appealing to Caesar he was taken to Rome as a prisoner and spent two years under house arrest there, still preaching the gospel freely (Acts 28).