“The Saints of Caesar’s Household Greet You”

By John Whitney Rood

Brussels, Belgium

jwhitneyrood@yahoo.com

Philippians is the last of the prison epistles written by the apostle Paul while under house arrest in Rome.  As Paul closes the letter to the Philippians, there is one verse that could be easily overlooked, yet it has profound implications:

Philippians 4:22

“All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.”

Bible commentaries are quick to point out that Caesar’s household refers to Caesar’s own palace.  Caesar’s household refers to everyone that lived and worked at Caesar’s palace…  all those that were free, all those that were slaves, the guards and even his own family.

It is certain that a number of believers lived and worked inside Caesar’s palace, the headquarters of his operations!  It is possible that even members of Caesar’s own family were believers.  This is truly a remarkable verse.

In addition, these believers were in Caesar’s household before Paul arrived in Rome.

In a similar way, God placed Joseph to the second in command of Egypt and Daniel as chief advisor to a succession of Babylonian kings.

God always places people in strategic positions in important places.  God always brings His people to the place of influence.  The end result is the increase of the influence of the gospel!

The ancient Roman Empire was not a wonderful place, it was very wicked.  The government advocated countless pagan practices, and many thousands of believers were offered as human sacrifices.  The Roman Caesars were considered as gods and expected to be worshiped as such.

Though these “insider” believers of the ancient Roman Empire were surrounded by paganism and hedonism, and faced much opposition, they were not asking for help in a desperate fashion nor for their escape to be arranged.  They were greeting the believers in Philippi without any complaints.  They obviously recognized that they were in the place where God had placed them and doing their part, just as every believer today should be doing.

The Lord had placed these believers right inside of Caesar’s own palace for the same reasons that He places people in strategic places today…

God sends and places His people inside the governmental system for

1) influence

2) informing

3) inviting

4) intercession

5) invoking  (that is another good “in-” word for prayer!”)

If there was a network of believers in the headquarters of Caesar’s Roman Empire, then surely God has also placed believers to be His witnesses inside the institutions of today’s European Union, which is the Revived Roman Empire spoken of in the Books of Daniel and Revelation!

I recently shared this verse with one of the European “insider believers” here in Brussels.  He carefully read it out loud a few times in his Bible, and he said, while glancing upward, “This is very encouraging for me.”

Paul benefited from his Roman citizenship and worked “inside” the system when he appealed to Caesar.

Acts 25:10-12

10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

Paul also stated earlier in Philippians how his imprisonment was instrumental in furthering the gospel influence, especially in Caesar’s palace which he mentions first.

Phil 1:12-13

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Philippians begins and ends with the importance of the gospel influence in Caesar’s palace!  That influence still continues today in Brussels and you have a part!

There are challenges and opposition that face all believers in the EU institutions in Brussels today…   in the European Commission, in the Council and in the European Parliament.  It is easy to become weary in the humanistic and secular environment.

Just as the saints in Caesar’s Roman palace greeted the Philippians, we can say that the believers inside the headquarters of the European Union, the Revived Roman Empire greet you!

In response, let us remember them, to pray for them.  God has sent them and placed them in positions of influence.  Pray for all those whom God has sent and placed worldwide in influential places of government and authority.  Your prayers are effective!