Roman Facilitation

The organization of the Roman Empire contributed to Paul's success in many ways.

First, Roman roads enabled Paul to travel extensively over land, crossing large distances with relative ease. Romans roads covered the entire empire in order to facilitate trade and troop movement, and made travel possible between all corners of the Empire.

Second, Roman law provided great protections to Roman citizens, such as Paul. This not only protected Paul's life and health at times (in conjunction with Roman officials and soldiers, e.g. Acts 22:25ff.), but it also provided Paul the means by which he gained access to important officials and influential people (frequently as a prisoner or defendant in a legal proceeding; cf. Acts 258ff.; 27:24; 28:19ff.; Phil. 1:12-14; 4:22).

Third, Roman empiricism spread Greek as the common language of the eastern half of the Empire. This gave Paul a way to communicate with nearly all he met, regardless of nationality and background.

Fourth, we might also add that the great number of slaves and otherwise powerless people (e.g. women, children, the poor) in the Roman Empire made the populace ripe for Paul's message, which proclaimed equality in Christ and royal sonship in Christ for all men and women (e.g. Gal. 3:26-4:7).