Maranatha

Finally after several chapters Paul arrives in Rome. As you remember the reason that he has been headed to Rome since chapter 21 is because of opposition from the Jewish leaders. The Jews have several times confronted Paul about his teachings and have attempted to have him arrested and ultimately killed. In order to save himself Paul falls back on his Roman citizenship and appeals his case to Caesar and Rome for judgment. Paul has made his case before the Jewish Sanhedrin, Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa. None of them can find any reason to convict Paul of any wrong doing. Because of his appeal to Caesar they push him along towards Rome as he requested. The most surprising thing to me in this chapter is found in verse 5. “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.” Paul has been preaching the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and through Him the forgiveness of sins. His practice was to first go to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Jerusalem was the most Jewish place on earth. Rome was the most Gentile. I expected as the story of Acts progressed that Paul would be the first to bring the good news about Jesus from Jerusalem to Rome. He was after all the Apostle to the Gentiles (… also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles Galatians 2:8b). But to my surprise when Paul gets to Rome the gospel has reached Rome ahead of him and there are even many Christians there to welcome him. The message of Jesus is more powerful than any man even the great apostle Paul.

In the book of Acts many things have changed dramatically between chapter 1 and 28. We have seen the new work of God on earth in the church and the differences that has made in the former Jewish way of relating to God. We have seen the number of believers in Jesus increase from about 120 disciples (1:15) in Jerusalem, to many thousands of believers between Jerusalem and Rome. Although many things have changed at least one thing has not. In 1:3 Jesus “spoke about the kingdom of God”. In 28:31 Paul “preached the kingdom of God”. The way God deals with man may change but the overall plan of God and his kingdom has not. Like the apostles in 1:6 I believe we should be anticipating Jesus’ return and the establishment of his Messianic Kingdom on earth. Even so come Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 16:22).