Paul in Rome – Part Two

 /Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 16, 2021

Paul in Rome – Part Two

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Acts 28:30-31

Read: Acts 28:23-31       

Several people said they were got so caught up in the story of Paul that they couldn’t stop reading at the end of an assigned passage – they wanted to know what happened next. While the entire book of Acts has seemed to be marching toward a grand climax, especially the last few readings about the thrilling sea journey, shipwreck and rescue on the island, it seems that Luke leaves us hanging.

What happened to Paul in Rome? Luke does not give us many details. From history, we know that during the two years Luke says Paul was in Rome, Paul wrote what we call his Prison Letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. But after giving us so many details about Paul’s missionary journeys, Luke gives scant information about Paul’s ministry in Rome, or for that matter, about Paul’s destiny with Caesar.

For Luke, the writing of the Acts of Apostolic Men has reached its glorious climax, and it is not about Paul. In Chapter 1, the followers of Jesus numbered one hundred twenty. Thirty-two years later, at the end of Chapter 28, the followers of Jesus numbered in the tens of thousands. The Good News of Jesus the Christ had traveled across the world and was proclaimed, without hindrance, in Rome, the center of the world.

Luke’s task was completed. Someone else can write chapter 29.

(During the two years Paul was under house arrest, Luke wrote his Gospel and the Book of Acts. Paul was released and extended his mission to Spain. He returned to Rome and when Nero severely persecuted the Christians, both Paul and Peter were martyred.)   

My Takeaway: I invite you to join me in praying that we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, write the twenty-ninth chapter of Acts 29 through our local church.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.