Chapter 44
The Never Ending Story
Acts 28:17-31
The last chapter of Acts is both an end and a beginning. In it, Luke brings his narrative of the beginnings and early history of the church to a close. It begins in Jerusalem and ends in Rome and covers the expansion of Christianity geographically throughout the ancient world. Acts also records the expansion of Christianity ethnically. What began as an exclusively Jewish institution grew to embrace the Samaritans and the Gentiles. (Acts 1:8 really is the outline).
Much of this was accomplished due to the tireless efforts of Paul. Churches were founded, strengthened, given leaders and protected from false teachers. The life of Paul did not end in Acts. He was released from this Roman house arrest, resumed his missionary efforts, possibly even reaching Spain (Romans 15:24), arrested a second time and finally executed. But the story of Christianity did not end with the death of Paul. The first century apostles handed the baton to a second generation of leaders, who in turn handed it to other. And that process is continuing even now. I have been passed a baton and I am passing it on to others, II Timothy 2:2. This is a never ending story.
Acts ends rather abruptly. But it is not incomplete. It reveals our source of might (power) - the Holy Spirit, our message - the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, our method - the local church, our perils - sin from within and false teachers and persecutors from without, our priorities - preach the gospel to those who do not know Christ and teach the Word to those who do.
This last section of Acts records for us the evangelistic efforts of Paul in Rome. It began with the Jews
Paul's Introduction, vv. 17-20
Never one to waste time, three days after arriving in Rome, Paul summons the leaders (men of prominence in the synagogues) of the Jewish community in Rome to his residence, v. 17a.
He probably did not know if they had heard about him from the Jews of Judea who hated him so severely. He did not want to alienate himself from the Jewish community and needed to explain to them the reason why he was a prisoner and to defend his innocence, vv. 17b-19.
Paul wanted them to know that he was not anti-Jewish. In fact, his chains were because of his belief in the hope of Israel. The hope of Israel was the promise of the coming Messiah and the kingdom which He would establish. The Jews in Israel had, for the most part, rejected Jesus as their Messiah. They were expecting a conquering king and a political kingdom overthrowing the Roman domination of Israel. Jesus was the Messiah, the King but not as they had expected. He said, "The kingdom of God is within you." His was a spiritual kingdom and so he had been overlooked and rejected by Israel. But not by Paul. And so Paul's approach to his fellow Jews in Rome is that he is chains because of his belief in the Jewish messiah. That would get him on their good side. Then he could introduce them to Jesus as the Messiah.
These Jewish leaders had no knowledge of Paul's case. they had received no letters about Paul nor any personal reports defaming Paul.
They were not however completely ignorant of Christianity. ("the sect" is how they referred to it in verse 22). They knew that Jews had spoken against it everywhere. They were interested in hearing Paul's views of Christianity, although they were non-committal in their attitude.
The Gospel Presentation, vv. 23-24.
And so a day was set for them to dialogue. When the day arrived, many people came to Paul's place of residence and were there from morning until evening. Using the Old Testament scriptures (law and prophets), Paul expounded, testified and persuaded them regarding the kingdom of God and concerning Jesus, v. 23.
As always, the gospel proved to be divisive. By the end of the day some believed what they had heard and some did not (see 14:4).
While we cannot make people believe, we have the responsibility to proclaim to them the gospel.
Israel's Rejection, vv. 25-29.
Unable to agree with each other, these Jewish leaders began to leave the meeting. But Paul had one more word of warning to leave them with. It was a quote from Isaiah 6:9-10. Jesus had quoted this same passage in a rebuke of the hardheartedness of Israel. Continual refusal to believe results ultimately in the inability to believe!
Paul also let it be known that this salvation has been sent by God to the Gentiles and that they will listen. And, at this they all left engaging in deep discussion one with another.
The Story's Incompleteness, vv. 30-31.
For two full years, Paul remained under house arrest, living in a rented house but being given the freedom to welcome all who came to him. Verse 31 indicates that he was unhindered and opened to preach about the kingdom of God and to teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.
During these two years of imprisonment Paul carried on this extensive evangelistic campaign (see Philippians 1:13; 4:22) and wrote four books of the New Testament (Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon).
Why did it take two years to resolve this case? Backlog of cases, lost written record in shipwreck; waiting for the arrival of Jewish accusers (who probably never showed up). Thus, released
Principles of Evangelism From Paul's Example
1. Whenever, wherever opportunity (vv. 16, 20. 23, 30).
2. Biblical (v. 23) and doctrinal (v. 31).
3. Never wasted time (v. 17).
4. Tirelessly (v. 23) and incessantly (vv. 30-31).
5. To everyone - Jews (vv. 23-27) and Gentiles (v. 28).
6. Preached Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and Messiah (v. 23).