Can You Still Visit the Places in the New Testament? The Hidden Room Under Rome
Most people walk right past it. Hidden under a church in Rome is the room where many believe Luke wrote Acts. Here's why standing there changes how you read Scripture.
Most of us read the New Testament like it happened in a world that is gone for good. We picture Paul and Peter and Luke almost like characters in a story, and we assume the places they walked have crumbled into dust. But a lot of those places are still here, and you can stand in them.
In this Friday bonus episode, Rachael takes you to one room in particular. It sits three floors down under a church in Rome, with a simple dirt floor, and almost no one knows it exists. Many believe it is connected to the house of Luke, the place where Paul stayed during his house arrest and where the book of Acts was most likely finished. The last scene of Acts is Paul in Rome, still preaching, still welcoming everyone who came to see him. When you read those final verses, you may be reading words that were written in that very room.
Rachael has been leading people there for about ten years now, and she has watched the Holy Spirit move in ways no photograph or podcast can capture. Healing. Calling into ministry. People hearing clearly from the Lord, including Rachael herself. She also shares the moment she crossed the threshold of that room and felt the Lord say, "This is the reason for all of it." If you have ever wondered what it would do to your faith to stand inside the story instead of just reading about it, this episode is your invitation.
A large part of the New Testament is tied to Rome, not just Israel. Paul wrote Romans to the church there, wrote several letters from prison there, spent his final years there, and by tradition was martyred there.
The book of Acts ends in Rome with Paul under house arrest. Many scholars believe Luke finished writing it during those exact two years, right there with Paul.
The room Rachael visits on the Rome trip is connected to the house of Luke, the doctor who traveled with Paul and had the means to rent a home.
There is no deed or hard proof, only church and oral tradition. But Rachael has seen the Holy Spirit move there in a way that speaks for itself.
Rome is full of famous sites with breathtaking marble, gold, and artwork. The room with the dirt floor is the opposite of all that, and it is often the place that changes people most.
A guide once told Rachael that people come to Rome for religion, not relationship. These trips are built around relationship with God, not just sightseeing.
Walking where Scripture happened changes the way you read it. It moves your faith out of the "Sunday only" category and into your everyday life.
"People don't come to Rome for relationship. They come for religion."
An Italian guide, on why almost no one visits the hidden room where the early church was formed.
Acts 28:30-31 (the ending of Acts, read in the episode): For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Romans (Paul's letter written to the church in Rome)
The book of Acts as the history of the early church, ending in Rome
00:00 Welcome back and a quick recap of last week's episode on pilgrimage
00:37 The surprising truth: many biblical places are still standing today
01:23 Why Israel trips are on hold and where else you can stand in Scripture
02:19 How this realization led Rachael to start leading Bible study trips
03:09 Why Rome matters so much in the story of the early church
04:31 The book of Acts ends in Rome, and who actually wrote it
05:30 The room where Acts was likely written, and the miracles Rachael has seen there
06:29 Reading Acts 28:30-31 in its real setting
07:19 Hunting down the hidden room and the guide's unforgettable words
08:37 Crossing the threshold: "This is the reason for all of it"
10:06 Tradition versus proof, and why the Holy Spirit settles it
11:04 The beauty of Rome's famous sites versus one simple dirt floor
12:41 Why standing in these places changes how you read Scripture for good
14:08 An invitation to pray about going, and the real cost
15:08 Closing prayer
Where was the book of Acts written?
Many scholars believe Luke wrote Acts in Rome during the two years Paul spent under house arrest. The book ends abruptly in the middle of that house arrest, and the most natural reason is that this is exactly where Luke was when he finished it.
Can you still visit the places from the New Testament?
Yes. While many people assume those places are lost to history, a large number of New Testament sites are still standing, especially in Rome. On the Bible Study Live Rome trip you can walk into them in person.
Did Paul really live in Rome?
Yes. Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to the church there, wrote several of his letters from Rome while imprisoned, and spent his final years in the city. By tradition, both Paul and Peter were martyred in Rome.
What is the room connected to Luke's house?
It is a small space hidden three floors down under a church in Rome, with a dirt floor. Local guides connect it to the house of Luke, where Paul stayed during his house arrest. There is no deed or hard proof, only church and oral tradition, but it is a place where Rachael has repeatedly seen the Holy Spirit move.
Where does Bible Study Live travel?
There is the immersive Rome trip focused on Paul and the early church, and a Genesis creation study hosted in Maui. The Maui trip is currently sold out for July, so reach out if you want to hear about next year.
How do I join the Rome trip?
There are only a couple of spots left. You can find all the details, dates, and pricing at BibleStudyLive.org.
Hearing Jesus on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hearing-jesus-daily-bible-study-christian-affirmations/id1615623952
If something in you stirred while you listened, do not rush past it. Pray about it. Then go see for yourself.
There are only a few spots left on the Rome trip. Get all the details and reserve your place at BibleStudyLive.org.
Suggested tags/keywords for Megaphone:
book of Acts written in Rome, Luke's house Rome, Paul house arrest Rome, New Testament sites you can visit, Christian pilgrimage to Rome, Bible study trip Rome, walking where Paul walked, Acts 28, early church in Rome, Hearing Jesus podcast, Bible Study Live
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