In the Book of Acts, we find the intriguing account of Paul’s conversion experience and his three missionary journeys. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ was his mission. As we read these accounts, we can almost hear him explaining how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, how he was blinded and then received back his sight. Then he received from the Lord his life’s mission: “take the message of salvation to the Gentiles as well as the Jews scattered across the known world.”
We find accounts of him being tossed into prison, worshiped as a god, stoned several times and left for dead. He had to flee from several towns, faced false charges and threats on his life. At the close of the book, we find Paul in a Roman prison, awaiting trial before Caesar. But there is a thread connecting all these events and circumstances: opportunities to share the gospel….his mission!
In C-26:7, Paul is brought before King Agrippa and Gov. Festus (in Israel) where they examined and drilled him concerning his beliefs and behavior. He candidly stood before them and shared his Damascus Road testimony and the call placed upon his life. King Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” So arrangements were made to send him to Rome to appear before Caesar.C-27.
As the small ship headed out to sea, loaded with cargo and Paul under heavy guard, they struggled as they crossed the stormy waters. There were 276 men on this Egyptian ship sailing for Italy. Sailing across the Aegean Sea, around the island of Crete, they headed out into the broad Mediterranean Sea. After days fighting a hard storm, they were shipwrecked on the island of Malta. They all survived the wreck and stayed there 3 months until springtime. Then they continued on to Rome (27:11). When they reached Puteoli, seaport for Rome, they met some believers who invited Paul and friends (traveling with him) to spend a week with them. These men had traveled some distance to meet Paul and his friends. Upon meeting them, Paul was deeply encouraged and thanked God for sending them to him. Then, they moved on to Rome where Paul (still under house arrest) was allowed to live by himself with a body guard.
Paul shared with the Jews about his journey that led him to Rome (28:17-20). He had long desired to come to Rome, to encourage the believers, to preach the gospel, and secure help of the Roman church for his mission to Spain (Rom 1 & 15). Here he was in chains, under house arrest, waiting to be taken to Caesar. But his mission and determination was still the same: “Preach the gospel.”
But first he wanted to meet with the Jewish leaders. It was his custom to preach in the synagogue, but he could not go to them; therefore, they would have to come to him where he was ‘housebound’. He declared that he was coming to them as brothers -having done nothing against them or their customs. The reason I am here is this: ”I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. (no mention of his rough treatment in Jerusalem by the Jewish leaders). But the Roman king and governor found no fault in my preaching and behavior; they saw no reason to put me to death; I could be set free if I had not appealed to Caesar!” (This explains to them why he was now in Rome under house arrest. (V 18-19).
Paul was aware “God was at work in all these circumstances” and he was perceptive of it all too. V 20: It is because of this, I asked to see you first to share this with you. “This is what we have in common – The Hope of Israel, the Messiah that our forefathers knew about, actually now has come! He is the one I am compelled and committed to be a witness unto Him even though I am wearing these chains.”
The Jews present told Paul they had not heard anything from Jerusalem about him and his ministry. “This is all new to us. No one has sent us or brought us anything about you. Even those coming here from that region have not spoken anything about you or your ministry.” The people were interested in hearing more about this new teaching Paul brought to them. It seems people everywhere in Rome were talking about it.
Eventhough the number of Jewish believers in Rome was small in number, they had survived the expulsion of the Jews by Claudius in AD 49. After his death (AD 54), many of Jewish believers returned to the city. Paul wrote his letter to the Roman church about AD 57, reflecting on the value of the presence of the church there. By AD 61, when Paul arrived, the church had continued to grow, but still was referred to as a sect. It received a negative assessment from the Jewish and Roman communities. But Paul wanted to present his message of the gospel to the Jews and Jewish believers alike. ‘He could relate to both of them.’
“Yes, we want to hear more about this since everyone is talking about this new system of beliefs,” they said. (V. 23). They were anxious to go to him, being under house arrest, since he could not go to the synagogue or community square. From dawn to dusk, they came to hear Paul preach. He expounded and testified, trying to persuade them about Jesus. He began with the Law of Moses and the Prophets. The pattern of this sermon was probably like unto the ones he preached earlier, sharing how this Jesus was the same Messiah of the Old Testament. “They all pointed to Jesus, the Christ,” he taught.
Some were persuaded and believed; sadly others refused to believe. Most of the Jewish community there opposed Paul’s teachings. Yes, God’s own people rejected the gospel: the power of God for salvation (Rom 1:16). It was offered first to Jews, then to Gentile and Greek, “but each must receive it by faith; it is an individual decision,” he preached.
When they gathered to hear Paul preach (v 23), he told them about the Kingdom of God and taught them about Jesus from the 5 books of Moses and the prophecies. They listened: some believed, but some did not. They argued back and forth, but when they left the final words of Paul was ringing in their ears: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said through Isaiah the prophet – Say to the Jews, ‘You will hear and see but not understand, for your hearts are too hard and your ears don’t listen. You have closed your eyes against understanding for you don’t want to see, hear, understand and turn to me to heal you.”
Luke ends the Book of Acts with Paul still in prison. He spent 2 years more there in rented quarters, under house arrest, but able to receive visitors during this time. So he preached and preached and preached. Those around him must have been affected in many positive ways, realizing this new Way was not a sect, but was ordained by God himself.
Paul was clearly one of the greatest missionaries of all time, yet many failed to believe his message. Like him, our task is to be faithful witnesses to all people, regardless of their responses. We see in Paul’s ministry that God uses a variety of means to bring believers in contact with others who need to know the gospel. We should be looking to share the gospel with all people, especially those seeking to know more about Him. We are to be faithful in our witness, realizing we are on mission throughout life. We may not go across the ocean to some foreign country to tells others about ‘what Christ has done for us’, but we can help feed the hungry here in Minden, we can show God’s love to the homeless and helpless around us. We can minister to the sick, visit in the jails and prisons, we can support UCAP, Teen Challenge, SEEDS, and other agencies with a ‘gospel message.’ We can send a message ‘someone cares for you because of Jesus’ to our world. Don’t be disappointed that you don’t ‘close a sale’ each time you share a testimony; Paul was not able to do that either. We plant the seed, someone else may water and cultivate it as it grows….But we know God will reap the harvest in due time! But we must be faithful to always be on mission!