Acts 28:17-31
Dear RTB’ers,
Paul in Rome. So today we finish the Book of Acts. What a wonderful journey it has been with Paul’s traveling, preaching, and teaching. But we’re not through with Paul just yet; we’ve got thirteen of his Epistles to read over the next two-and-one-half years. We’ve got Paul in Rome now, at least for his next two years (v. 30). Many scholars argue that Paul left Rome after some time and traveled to Spain, Asia Minor, Crete and Greece. We’ll cover more on this claim of Paul’s “Fourth Missionary Journey” when we read I Timothy.
I am surprised that the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem had not sent word forward of Paul’s coming to Rome. Here are the Jews from Rome speaking: And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.” (v. 21) Since they did not have a predisposition to hate or harm Paul, they seemed to be open to listening to him, much like other Jews in synagogues had been during Paul’s missionary journeys. In fact, verse 23 tells us that Paul spoke, From morning till evening… What a change that must have been for Paul, to be allowed to preach without hindrance!
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much dispute among themselves. (v.29) This verse may not be in the translation that you are reading. The NASB has it, but the ESV does not. The ESV indicates in a footnote that “some manuscripts” add this verse. But, to the verse itself… Paul has been speaking all day to these Jews who clearly have been open to what he has been saying, even to the point of arguing among themselves – very likely to the possible truth of what Paul has been preaching. We have often heard it said that God’s word never goes out void. Here is the cited Scripture verse: …so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) So yeah, the Jews went out arguing among themselves. And there’s truth in that verse for us. If we’ve been sharing Jesus with an unbeliever, we have not wasted our words. Whatever we have said can be turned over and over in the mind of those who have listened to us – even something as simple as an invitation to church!
Paul appears to be under house arrest: …it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain. (v. 20b), but he also seems to have quite a bit of freedom. He was allowed to have visitors (vv. 17, 23, 30) and was living in a rented house instead of a jail cell, and he is allowed to continue his preaching and teaching. Verse 31 is especially clear about Paul’s relative freedom: …proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. I daresay that we all could preach and teach “without hindrance”, but most of us lack Paul’s “all boldness”. We need more Holy Spirit fire!
Blessings!