Pray For Me

by Micky Galloway

In Romans 15:30-32 Paul called upon those in Rome to pray for him. (1) “That I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judaea,” (2) “(That) my ministration which (I have) for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints” and, (3) “That I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest.”

Paul’s request to the brethren in Rome to pray for him, acknowledged the reality of God and His ability to act in the affairs of men. God has promised that He is able and willing to hear the prayer of those who are righteous. “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication” (I Peter 3:12). James said, “The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working” (James 5:16). The psalmist wrote, “O thou who hearest prayer …” (Psalms 65:2). It is reassuring to know that the affairs of the universe are not so absorbing of God’s attention that he cannot give heed to the affairs of the individual soul who prays. Our sin however, separates us from God and hides his face from us, so that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:2).

Paul’s request for the prayers of the Romans has a context. On his third preaching tour, Paul wrote from Ephesus the first epistle to the Corinthians in which he instructed them, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem” (I Corinthians 16:1-3). From Ephesus he travels into Macedonia where he writes the second epistle to the Corinthians. He tells them of his plans to soon visit them and encourages them to have their collection ready for the needy saints in Jerusalem (II Corinthians 8-9). While in Corinth, Paul writes the Roman letter and expressly states that he is on his way to deliver the contribution collected from the brethren in Macedonia and Achaia to the “poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem” (Romans 15:25-26). In this context Paul requests their prayers.

Pray for me, “That I may be delivered (rescued NASU) from them that are disobedient in Judaea.” Paul was later warned by Agabus the prophet as he took Paul’s belt and “bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles” (Acts 21:11 NKJV). Within days after arriving in Jerusalem, the Jews “stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him.” He was accused of: teaching against the Jews, teaching against the law, teaching against the temple and defiling the temple by bringing a Gentile into the temple. They dragged Paul out of the temple, beating him; “and as they were seeking to kill him” the chief captain (commander of 1000 soldiers; later identified as Claudius Lysias, cf. Acts 23:26) came and arrested Paul and “delivered” (rescued) him from the violent crowd (Acts 21:30-36).

The next day, desiring to know the accusations of the Jews against Paul, the chief captain delivered him to the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin court. The court could then give the chief captain official charges that he could report to Rome. When Paul saw that the court was divided, one part Pharisees and one part Sadducees, he identified himself as “a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question” (Acts 23:6). Suddenly, a great dissension arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.” The chief captain, fearing that Paul should be torn in pieces; “commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them” (Acts 23:10). Again, the chief captain “delivered” (rescued) Paul from the disobedient.

The next day, there was a conspiracy between the Jewish council and more than forty men who had bound themselves by an oath, to kill Paul. When the chief captain learned of the plot from Paul’s nephew, he again “delivered” (rescued) Paul from the disobedient Jews. He made ready 200 soldiers to go as far as Caesarea (about 60 miles) along with 70 horseman and 200 spearmen. With 470 armed soldiers, traveling under the cover of darkness, the chief captain was determined to bring Paul “safe unto Felix the governor” (Acts 23:23-24).

Pray for me, “(That) my ministration which (I have) for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” Paul’s concern was that the needy saints in Jerusalem would be so prejudiced against their Gentile brethren, that they might not accept their generous benevolence. When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, it is especially significant that the Jewish “brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry. And they, when they heard it, glorified God” (Acts 21:17-20). These Jewish brethren glorified God for the obedience of the Gentiles, gladly accepting their generous gift.

Pray for me, “That I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest.” In Jerusalem, the Lord assured Paul, “thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11). Claudius Lysias, the chief captain had safely delivered Paul to Caesarea. There he is charged before the governor, Felix, as a “pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; who moreover assayed to profane the temple; on whom also we laid hold” (Acts 24:5-6). Some manuscripts include accusations against Claudius Lysias for delivering Paul “with great violence … out of our hands” (verse 7). Felix, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, deferred any judgment for two years. When Festus became governor, he too heard Paul’s case. With no Roman official willing to make a judgment, Paul appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:10-11). Acts 27 begins the long and perilous voyage by sea to Rome. Finally, after several months of travel, Paul arrives in Rome, where he finds “brethren.” Who “when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage” (Acts 28:14-15). Calling those that were chief priests of the Jews, Paul reports the accusations and events from Jerusalem to Rome. They said, “We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest” (Acts 28:21-22). The book of Acts closes with Paul as a prisoner, given liberty to live in his own hired dwelling, and “received all that went in unto him preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness.” Finally after about three years, Paul finds rest and is privileged to preach in Rome “none forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).

Let us be thankful for the fervent prayers of our beloved brethren and for a loving God who hears and answers prayer.