Preparing the Nations for "the Teaching of Jehovah"

HOW RELATIVELY CONVENIENT TRAVEL PROVED HELPFUL

Christians made good use of the Roman system of roads. To secure and maintain control over its subjects, Rome had a strong and efficient army. To move troops quickly, good roads were needed, and the Romans were skilled at building them. Roman engineers constructed over 50,000 miles  (80,000 km) of roads that linked  nearly every province.  The roads cut through forests,crossed deserts, and scaled mountains.

In addition to their system of roads, the Romans could take advantage of some 17,000 miles (27,000 km)  of navigable rivers and canals. Roman ships traveled some 900 sea routes that linked hundreds of ports. Christians could therefore travel throughout the Roman world. There were difficulties, but the apostle Paul and others could journey throughout the realm without passports and visas. There were no immigration and customs checks. Outlaws feared Roman punishment, so roads were relatively safe.  Travel by  sea was similarly safe because  Rome's navies kept sea lanes free of piracy. Although Paul experienced shipwreck several times and there were dangers at sea, the Scriptures do not specifically say that his voyages were troubled by pirates. - 2 Corinthians 11:25, 26. 

Next time: Preparing the Nations for "the Teaching of Jehovah" - HOW LANGUAGE HELPED 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015