We have here:
I. The accomplishment of a long-cherished purpose by the Apostle. From an early date in his ministry his heart had been set on visiting the imperial city. Take heart then, my brother. No matter what may be the Rome on which you have set your desire, if it be but to bless and benefit your fellows and honour Christ, be sure that for you, too, there will come a day when you will be able to sympathise with Paul and Luke when they say, "So we went toward Rome."
II. We have in these words something that reminds us that Paul's purpose was not attained precisely in the way in which at one time he had expected it would be realised. One cannot read his letter to the Romans without feeling that when he wrote its Chapter s the Apostle did not dream of entering the imperial city as a prisoner. Now, many among us could tell of similar things in our own histories. We set our hearts on some enterprise of benevolence, or on the attainment of some post of usefulness, and we get it ultimately, but it comes to us accompanied with something else of which we had at first no thought. It is to keep us through all our efforts at the feet of Jesus, and to impel us, from first to last, to depend entirely upon Him.
III. While Paul's entrance into Rome was not quite what he at one time expected it would be, yet it really accomplished all he desired. The Jews, indeed, would not receive the truth at his lips, but he found a rich harvest among the Gentiles. And what forum even could contain the myriads to whom Paul has preached in his noble letters? And who may attempt to reckon up the millions who will yet read them in future ages, when the discourses of today shall have passed into oblivion? Yes, it is true, prisoner as he was, Paul went to Rome in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
W. M. Taylor, The Limitations of Life,p. 264.
Reference: Acts 28:14. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 45.