long one, lasting five years. St. Mark departed Rome with St. Peter and,
according to Eusebius, made his way to Alexandria in Egypt in 58 AD.
When St. Peter decided to return to Rome in 62 AD he asked St. Mark to
return with him, leaving Alexandria in the hands of Anianus. Certainly, the
two were together in Rome after 62 AD, as evidenced by the greetings at
the end of St. Peter’s first epistle.¹
After writing his letter to the Romans, St. Paul determined to journey back
to Jerusalem. He hoped to be there by the Passover of 58 AD, but due to the
plots of the Jews had to go by a roundabout route, thus not arriving until
Pentecost. After greeting St. James, St. Paul made his way to the Temple.
There, he was spotted by “Jews from Asia” and was accused of introducing
a Gentile into the most sacred place of Judaism. The Jews set upon him,
and St. Paul would certainly have been beaten to death had not Roman
soldiers from the local garrison intervened.
From the protective custody of the Romans in the fortress of Antonia, St.
Paul was sent under heavy guard to Caesarea to be judged by the Governor,
Felix. After hearing his spirited defense, the Governor decided to keep St.
Paul in open confinement, where he remained for two years (during which,
the Governor hoped to receive a large bribe, but none was forthcoming;
also, St. Luke composed his Gospel). It was nowabouts that Christ once
more appeared to St. Paul, assuring him of his imminent release: “Take
courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear
witness also at Rome.” Before the next Governor, Festus, St. Paul again
defended himself, this time exercising his right as a Roman citizen to
appeal to the Emperor in Rome (who at this time was Nero):“You have
appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”
Embarking on a wheat ship sailing from Alexandria to Rome, the first part
of the voyage was uneventful enough. However, after passing Crete the
ship was caught in a violent storm near the Adriatic Sea and for more than
two weeks drifted aimlessly. Many despaired for their lives, but St. Paul
received reassurance from an angel that no one would be lost: “Do not be
afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and lo, God has granted you all
1
St. Mark would return to Alexandria in 68 AD, the year after St. Peter’s
martyrdom in Rome. According to Egyptian tradition, the Evangelist was himself
martyred in the same year, being dragged by rope along the stone streets of
Alexandria by a wild mob of Serapis-worshippers.
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