By: Dale Weckbacher
Text: Acts
28:11-31
Acts 28:30-31
He lived there two
whole years at his own expense,[d] and welcomed all
who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of
God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness
and without hindrance.
(ESV)
The mission of the Church is eternally
etched in the stone of God’s Word in Mark
16:15 and Matthew
28:19-20 and is unchangeable. However, the methods and plans for conducting
the mission change due to changing circumstances as the Church must function in
an ungodly world. The Apostle Paul experienced these changes for he began by
taking the Gospel in person to Gentiles in cities like Ephesus, Philippi. When
objections arose and Paul found himself in jail, he changed his method to
writing letters to these Churches that would become the epistles that continue
to teach people about Jesus Christ. Now as a prisoner in Rome, Paul has the
Jewish leaders in Rome come to him rather than going to the synagogue. Since
Covid19, the Church has experienced many changes and had to adapt its methods
and plans for spreading the Gospel.
In 2
Corinthians 11:25, the Apostle Paul spoke of enduring beatings, stoning,
and shipwrecks. Many of these occurred and represented obstacles after Paul
received his calling to go to Rome (Acts
23:11). The text of this posting begins with securing a ship to leave Malta
after wintering on the island for three months (Acts
28:11). After several stops along the way, they arrive in Rome (Acts
28:12-14). Even though Paul is a prisoner when in Rome he could stay by
himself with a soldier guarding him (Acts 28:16).
However, since Paul is a
prisoner, he cannot visit the synagogues in Rome as was his custom, and instead
invites the Jewish leaders to meet with him. Paul begins by explaining that he
is not there because of anything done against his people or the customs of
their fathers and yet was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands
of the Romans (Acts
28:17). Even though the Roman authorities found no charges worthy of death
for Paul, and wanted to set him free, Paul appealed to Caesar due to Jewish
objections (Acts
28:18-19). Paul continues by telling them he is in chains because of the hope
of Israel (Acts
28:20). The Jewish leaders let Paul know that they have received no letters
reporting any evil about Paul and that they wish to hear from him about the
sect he belongs to since it is spoken against everywhere (Acts
28:21-22).
After agreeing to a time to meet,
the Jewish leaders, plus others, come to Paul at his lodging with Paul
expounding to them from morning to evening about the kingdom of God and Jesus
using the Law of Moses and from the Prophets (Acts
28:23). Some of these Jewish leaders were convinced with others
disbelieving, causing a disagreement (Acts
28:24-25). They departed after Paul quoted Isaiah
6:9-10 which says,
And he said, “Go, and
say to this people:
“‘Keep on hearing,[a] but do not understand;
keep on seeing,[b] but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull,[c]
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
(Isaiah 6:9-10)
At this, Paul tells them that
salvation from God will go to the Gentiles since they will listen (Acts
28:28). After this Paul remained in Rome for two full years, welcoming all
who came to him proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus with
boldness and without hindrance (Acts
28:30-31).
After many obstacles, the Apostle
Paul finally arrives in Rome (Acts
28:11-16). Paul then follows the custom of his ministry and takes the
message of the Gospel to the Jews first but since he is a prisoner must have
them come to him instead of going to the synagogue (Acts
28:17-22). As usually occurred, some of the Jews believed and some did not
cause a disagreement among them with them leaving once Paul quotes Isaiah
6:9-10 (Acts
28:23-28). Paul then takes the Gospel message to the Gentiles in Rome. Paul
remains in his dwelling in Rome for two years welcoming all who would come to
him to hear him proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts
28:29-31).
The Church has a mission to take the Gospel message to
anyone that will listen, making disciples and baptizing them in the name of the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mark
16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). How the Church proclaims the message may change
due to circumstances, but the mission and message remain the same. The Church
in the Book of Acts provides a snapshot of the Church in action spreading the
Gospel and provides an example for the Church to follow today. My prayer is for
the Church to follow this example.
This concludes our verse-by-verse
study of the Book of Acts. The book ends with Paul in Rome so the next New
Testament book we will study verse-by-verse is Romans which provides us with
the teachings of Paul to those in Rome. May God challenge and bless those
reading this post.
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