After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar--not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
" `Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'
"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
How does this amazing account of God’s early work through the apostles end? Magnificently? Gloriously? Wondrously?
No. And yet yes.
No. Paul is a prisoner. People are still rejecting the gospel.
But yes. Paul has enough freedom to keep doing what he’s been doing. Paul keeps offering good news to both Jews and Gentiles.
Even though Paul was in Rome because he felt forced to appeal to a higher authority to avoid the murderous intents of the Jews, he eagerly reached out to the Jews in Rome. He assured them that he was one of them – it was the hope of Israel that had Paul bound in chains (Acts 28:17-20).
Despite the shipwreck and the three months’ travel delay, the Jews in Rome had not heard about Paul. But they were curious about his beliefs because they had heard negative things about this “sect.”
When Paul shared the gospel from the Law and the Prophets, pointing to Jesus Christ, some Jews believed, but others would not. The Jewish rejection continued, and Paul warned them that even their rejection had been foretold. The third verse from the end of the book again says that “God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen” (Acts 28:28)!
The pattern continued: first Jews, then Gentiles. What pattern? The pattern of spreading the good news. The pattern of the growing kingdom of God. Did it look spectacular? No. Paul was in chains. But was it spectacular? Yes! Some Jews and even Gentiles believed in Jesus, their Christ and King!
The last two verses of this book set a pattern for all believers: “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” Welcome all – Jew and Gentile. Preach the Kingdom. Teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father, as You continue Your acts today, may we stay faithful to the pattern You set for us through Your servant Paul. You kept expanding Your kingdom from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And You are still expanding Your kingdom. Wherever Paul was, he tried to welcome all, though many rejected him. He preached the kingdom, though many rejected the King. He taught about Jesus, though many did not believe. May I do the same, and may I, like Paul, rejoice to see a growing number of brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers who have been welcomed into the kingdom of God under the Lord Jesus Christ. May I—and all who walk with me and all who come behind me—be faithful.
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