“Acts 28: Arrival in Rome”

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Matthew’s record of the Great Commission reads like this: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The book of Acts is the inspired account of how the early church carried out that great mission. It also contains the pattern for how God’s people can evangelize the world in every generation (Colossians 1:23).

In Acts 28, the apostle Paul arrives in the major city of the first century world, Rome. He meets with Jewish leaders to explain his relationship with God, “persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.” The book of Acts ends with the information that Paul spent two years under house arrest, with the freedom to teach everyone who came to him.

It was during this time frame (from when Paul was first arrested in Acts 21:33 through this two year house arrest – approximately A.D. 60-63) that Paul wrote four letters, commonly called his prison epistles. They are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

After the events of Acts 28, Paul is released for a period of time. It was then that he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus and Hebrews (if he wrote Hebrews).

Paul was later arrested again and, during this imprisonment, he wrote his final letter, the book of 2 Timothy. Shortly after he wrote that last epistle, Paul was put to death, in approximately A.D. 68. History (or perhaps, legend) tells us that Paul was beheaded.

One more spiritual lesson. When Paul preached to these listeners in Acts 28, there were two responses. “And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved” (verse 24). There are only two responses to the gospel, obedience and disobedience. There are two groups of people, saved and lost. There are two eternal destinies, heaven and hell.

World evangelism is accomplished one soul at a time.

--Roger Hillis

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