I, Saul by Jerry B. Jenkins

 The premise behind I, Saul, by Jerry B. Jenkins, is fascinating. 

Through a series of inter-related storylines, the reader travels through the Apostle Paul's early memories, his experience as a prisoner in ancient Rome's Mamertine prison to be executed, and a modern-day storyline of a university professor who stumbles upon a previously-hidden (and completely unexpected discovery) of Paul's memoir. 

What a fascinating concept! 

That is what kept me reading, as I felt like the novel had a slow start, and I found it difficult to connect to the modern-day characters. When I finally realized what 'incredible discovery' had been found, that's when I found myself invested in the story. I wanted to know more! And the way it ends makes it seem like it's part of a 2-part series. Unfortunately, when I looked on Amazon and saw a title for one called I, Paul, it didn't look like a readily available book even though it was supposed to be published in 2014. I'm unsure if it was ever released—but I'm going to keep looking for it. I want to know what else is in that fictional memoir!

The premise of this novel reminded me a lot of Paul L. Maier's The Constantine Codex and because I just read that novel a few weeks ago, I couldn't help comparing the two. For me, I, Saul fell short, simply because it felt... smaller... than Codex, which felt more global and high-stakes in scope. That being said, it's definitely worth the read!

Click here to find it on Amazon!

Mamertine Prison

So, aside from the Colosseum, the 2nd biggest reason was because I wanted to see Mamertine Prison.

Said to be the place where both Peter and Paul were imprisoned (and the place where Paul wrote several New Testament letters), it was foremost in my mind. I'd hoped my tour guide would point it out, however, he was unable to—just the general area where it was located.

Not to worry, I thought. I'll find it tomorrow.

After my tour of the Vatican (posts to come!), I walked across Rome in hopes of finding this place. I didn't have cell phone service; I only had a map given to me by the hotel and a general area of where the prison might be.

However, it was not to be. All the tours I went on meant I'd been walking and standing for too long. I have some kind of undiagnosed foot problem where I can't stand/walk for too long without extreme pain... which I was already in.

Halfway there, I started having to stop and sit in shop windows and on benches, just to take pressure off my feet. Finally, I gave up and hailed a taxi, even though I knew it would be expensive. It was worth it to be able to walk around the prison, I thought. I paid 8 euro to go 1 mile. He dropped me in the area, because he didn't know the prison either. So I limped to a tourist booth, where they told me I needed to go back to where the taxi had dropped me and turn right (a quarter of a mile). After resting, I went back and turned right, and walked again, up a cobbled hill and down another. It was clear I was in a residential area. It started to rain. I went inside a Cathedral to rest my feet and sit for a few minutes, and the priest told me I couldn't be there—or even outside leaning against the wall. I had to leave the property, even though I could barely walk... and by now it was raining harder.

Finally, I walked back down the way I'd come and found an empty doorway in a busy area to rest my feet and wait out the rain. It was after 6pm, I was hungry, wet, discouraged, and in pain. Finally, I walked to a taxi stand and took a taxi back to my hotel, where I found a local restaurant and then went to my room. By the end of the night, I couldn't even stand and had to crawl to get anywhere in my room.

It was only then that I was finally able to google Mamertine prison (because I finally had wifi). It turns out I saw it the day before, while I was in the Roman Forum. I even have pictures of it. Basically, when the tourist information booth guy told me to go back and turn right, he should have said left.

(the prison is the white building on the right)

But it wouldn't have mattered, because the prison closed at 5pm, and it was around that time when I arrived.

And, after more research, I found out that it's highly unlikely that that particular building is the prison. Honestly, I didn't need google to tell me that. After speaking to so many people in the tourism industry in Rome who had no clue where the place was (and it is their job to know these things), it means that it isn't the legit place.

I still, however, am very disappointed in the priest who couldn't find the compassion to let a weary, wet traveller in pain find rest just for a few moments in his church. 

Palatine Hill

From the Roman Forum, we made our way to Palatine Hill.

In the center of the 7 hills of Rome, this is where Rome began. From the grounds, you can look down on the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, as well as see a hippodrome in another direction.

At this point, I was pretty tired and hungry, as it had been an incredible, but very long morning. Our tour guide dismissed us and I headed to the train station so I could eat lunch and get to my next tour in time.

A personal gymnasium for the palace

The Roman Forum

After the Colosseum, we headed towards the Roman Forum.

Walking from the Colosseum, by the Arch of Constantine, and then up into the Roman Forum, at the foot of Palatine Hill....you can just imagine the triumphal parades from generals and their armies returning from war.

And then, almost suddenly, you are in the Roman Forum—the center of commerce, government, and life in the Roman Empire. The very heart of Rome.

Walking amongst the ruins, my tour guide explained many of the important buildings nearby (we didn't have time for them all). The pictures he painted of ancient Roman life were enthralling—suddenly, we could see Julius Caesar, Domitian, Nero, Titus, and so many others in my minds eye.

The Colosseum

My first priority for my trip to Rome was to see the Colosseum—of course! And it did not disappoint.

To say it was... colossal... is pretty redundant. It was so big, I kept having to back up to get it all in my viewfinder. And the truth is, this is only part of the Colosseum; it was actually much taller.

A plaque inside the Colosseum says that it was built by Titus and was funded by the spoils of war (which were the spoils from the war with the Jews) in the first century. The arch of Titus outside clearly shows images of Titus bringing back the spoils from Israel, including the Temple. (Edit on Feb 2020): see Amir Tsfarti's teaching from Behold Israel here for more reference)

this is my friend, Julius

The inside was just as impressive. From the second tier, you could see all the way around and across of the amphitheater, as well as down into the area below the partially reconstructed arena floor (the areas where the gladiators and the animals stayed). As my tour guide talked about the different types of "shows" that were here and described the customs of the day—from how the games were sponsored to some of the rituals, it was incredible to imagine what it had been like.

It was also very sobering. These games were games of death. Those fighting for their lives were prisoners fighting for their freedom (if it was possible at all). And for those who weren't fighting, who were being crucified or eaten by animals or some other horrible thing, endured the worst of nightmares in front of a yelling, taunting crowd.

I specifically asked my tour guide if he knew if Christians were martyred here, since I know they were in other arenas throughout the empire... and also the Nero liked to light his garden parties with their burning corpses. He said that to his knowledge, none were ever killed here, but I honestly am not sure I believed it.

We'll talk about this more in another post, but the Colosseum is just steps away from the Roman Forum (the center for commerce and governing of the day, as well as prisons) and Palatine Hill. It's too convenient for me, when we know that Christians were martyred here—and Peter and Paul were imprisoned here in the city—to think that this didn't happen.