The Lord's Servant Cheered

At Appii Forum and The Three Taverns, the brethren from Rome came to meet them and this cheered the heart of Paul somewhat. He knew what awaited him in every city, for was he not going to bear testimony to a rejected Lord whose prisoner he afterward called himself? The Lord knows how to strengthen and to help His dear servants in the hour of trial.
It was not the time yet for his trial before Augustus Caesar. The testimony of Paul, the prisoner, must go forth. God prepared the place and the people and gave Paul exceptional privileges to have his own hired house with a soldier as his guard. After three days, he called the chief men among the Jews together and told them how he had been falsely accused and that he was wearing the prisoner's chain for the hope of Israel. They were willing to hear of this sect that was everywhere spoken against.
On the day appointed, many came to him into his lodging to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God out of the law of Moses and the prophets all day long. But a suffering, rejected Messiah was not the kind of king they wanted.