In the Book of Acts, chapter 26 presents Paul recounting his conversion and ministry before King Agrippa and Festus. Paul had been under house arrest for two years under Felix, with no substantial legal basis for his detention, as both Felix and Festus sought to appease the Jews. Agrippa, considered an authority on Jewish matters by the Romans, was invited by Festus to hear Paul's case during a courtesy visit. Despite Paul's appeal to Rome, Festus chose not to acquit him, mirroring Felix's decision for political reasons, and sent Paul onward to Rome. In his address to Agrippa, Paul emphasized his obedience to Christ's call, detailing his journey from Damascus, where he regained his sight, to Jerusalem, and then to the Gentiles. He proclaimed that Christ would suffer, be the first to rise from the dead, and bring light to both Jews and Gentiles. Agrippa, struck by Paul's logic, questioned whether Paul thought he could persuade him to become a Christian in such a short time. Paul responded, wishing that Agrippa were like him, despite standing in chains. Chapter 27 describes Paul's perilous voyage to Rome, including a shipwreck and landing on Malta, where they spent the winter. As sailing weather improved, Paul was transferred to another ship, traveling to Syracuse in Sicily and then to Puteoli. By mid-February, though not ideal for sailing, Paul continued his journey northward along the Appian Way, meeting brethren at the Appii Forum and the Three Inns, which greatly encouraged him after his harrowing experiences. Upon arriving in Rome, Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with a guarding soldier, earning significant respect and privacy from the centurion Julius, despite remaining a state prisoner within the palace grounds. In chapter 28, the focus shifts to Paul's interactions with the Jews in Rome. Following his pattern of addressing Jews first, Paul explained his presence in Rome due to charges from the Jerusalem Jews, though Roman authorities found no reason for a death penalty. The Roman Jews, unaware of any charges against him, expressed interest in hearing about Christianity. An all-day session ensued, filled with proclamation, discussion, and debate over interpretations of the law, prophets, and writings, particularly concerning Jesus as Messiah, the resurrection, and the Kingdom of God. When some rejected his message, Paul declared their stubbornness, citing Isaiah, and freed himself of responsibility for their salvation. The narrative abruptly ends without detailing Paul's trial before Caesar or his relationship with the Christian church in Rome. Paul remained under house arrest in Rome for two additional years, during which his trial was delayed due to the slow Roman judicial system and communication challenges. It is likely that Jewish accusers took time to gather witnesses from across the Roman Empire to testify against Paul. During this period, Paul turned his cell into a place of evangelism, preaching the Kingdom of God despite his chains, and maintained care for the churches, operating as a form of church administration with companions like Luke, Timothy, Tychicus, Demas, Mark, Aristarchus, Epaphras, Epaphroditus, and Onesimus. He also wrote several epistles, including Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians, the latter delivered by Epaphroditus after recovering from illness. Despite changing circumstances in Rome, including Nero's growing instability and court intrigues, Paul continued his work, influencing even the guards chained to him.

In the Book of Acts, the journey of the apostle Paul on his second evangelistic campaign is detailed, beginning in the southern end of Turkey and moving westward. Despite attempts to travel north into other regions, Paul was repeatedly turned back, attributing these hindrances to satan. His path led him to Asos on the western edge of Turkey, where a vision of a man from Macedonia urged him to cross over. Arriving at Neapolis, the port for Philippi, Paul began preaching the gospel in Philippi around 50 AD. His first convert there was Lydia, a woman he met by the riverside where prayer was made, as there was no synagogue due to a small Jewish population. Lydia's home became the base for his operations in Philippi. In Philippi, Paul encountered a young woman possessed by a demon, and casting it out led to a riot, resulting in Paul and Silas being imprisoned. An earthquake that night led to the conversion of the Philippian jailer. Upon learning that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the city officials, fearing repercussions for their unfair treatment, personally released them but urged them to leave Philippi for safety. They departed and journeyed to Thessalonica, a major city of Macedonia with a population of about 200,000, situated on the Via Ignatia, a key east-west road. In Thessalonica, Paul preached in the synagogue, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ. He reasoned with the people, engaging in intense discussions that often became heated. His message focused on proving that Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures as the Messiah, addressing Jewish misconceptions about the Messiah's nature and mission. Resistance was strong, particularly over concepts of grace and law, which also fueled earlier persecutions and disputes recorded in Acts. Despite opposition, some were converted, likely including Gentile women who were proselytes to Judaism. Envy over Paul's success led to disturbances by the Jews, who accused him of proclaiming a king against the emperor, though lacking evidence. The city council dismissed the case, but required Jason, Paul's host, to post a bond ensuring Paul's departure. To avoid further trouble, Paul left at night for Berea, a less prominent city off the main road. In Berea, Paul again went to the synagogue, finding the people fair-minded and open to his message. They studied the Scriptures daily to verify his teachings, contrasting with the hostility faced elsewhere. However, Jews from Thessalonica stirred trouble, forcing Paul to leave for Athens, while Timothy stayed in Berea and Silas went to Philippi, later rejoining Paul in Athens and then Corinth. In Athens, a city steeped in pagan culture and philosophy with a small population of about 10,000, Paul faced a forest of idols and temples. Speaking at the Areopagus, he addressed the Epicureans and Stoics, starting with their concept of an unknown God, declaring Him as the Creator who needs no temple or ritual. He emphasized man's need for God and the irrelevance of idolatry, challenging their beliefs with the reality of a living God who controls history and destinies of nations. Paul urged them to seek God, revealing the mystery of His presence, and spoke of a coming judgment by God's agent raised from the dead, a concept met with scorn due to their disbelief in bodily resurrection. Moving on to Corinth, the most significant Gentile city Paul visited during his campaigns, with a population of about 200,000, it was a commercial hub known for wealth and decadence. Corinth housed a large Jewish population and temples to various gods, including Aphrodite with her sacred prostitutes. After facing beatings, imprisonment, and scorn in previous cities, Paul arrived in Corinth dejected, weak, and anxious, wondering how his mission would fare in this influential yet challenging city.