Why was Paul on a ship to Rome after his imprisonment in Caesarea?
Paul had appealed to Rome after spending a year and a half in prison in Caesarea, so he was placed on a ship bound for Rome. This voyage followed his imprisonment and fulfilled the required appeal to the Roman authorities.
Les explains that Paul had to appeal to Rome after spending a year and a half in prison in Caesarea, and so he was now on a ship headed for Rome. This journey to the capital of the pagan Roman Empire set the stage for his letter to the believers at Rome. Les finds it amazing that this little Jew could go almost without fear into Rome, which was beginning to turn on Christianity. The Romans generally respected ancient religions like Judaism, but they persecuted Christianity because they considered it relatively new and because it claimed a king with power above Rome.