PAUL PREACHES IN ROME
Text: Acts 28:17-31
Introduction
1. The Book of Acts ends, not with a period, but with a comma. We don’t get a tidy conclusion to Paul’s story, but we do get a powerful reminder that the mission of the Church is far from over.
2. In Acts 28:17–31, we see Paul in Rome, under house arrest, yet still preaching the gospel “with all boldness and no one tried to stop him.”
3. This final snapshot of Paul is a testimony to one central truth: the gospel of Jesus Christ is unstoppable.
4. Read Acts 28:17-31
Transition: Let’s get a ring side seat, as Paul finally preaches in Rome.
I. The Messiah Has Already Come
A. After being set up in a rented house, Paul waste little time before getting to work. In vv. 17-20, Luke tells us, “Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
1. After three days, probably to get settled in his new living quarters, Paul called for all of the Jewish leaders in Rome to come and meet with him.
2. He proclaimed his innocence of any wrongdoing concerning their Jewish faith or customs.
3. In fact, he stated that the Roman government wanted to release him because they found no evidence to convict him.
4. However, the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem wouldn’t give up, and although it’s not stated here, we know they planned to assassinate him. Therefore, he found it necessary to appeal to Caesar.
5. His reason for wanting to get acquainted with them was to explain why he was in chains, and the reason was that he believed the Messiah, Jesus, had already come.
B. After hearing Paul, the Jewish leaders said, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
1. These Jewish leaders had heard nothing bad about Paul or the accusations against him, but they had heard things about the followers of Jesus, and most of what they heard was bad.
2. The people they had heard from were probably those who had heard what was going on in Israel, and some skeptical Romans who criticized Christians for no reason.
3. The followers of Jesus were criticized everywhere because they were seen as a threat to the Roman way of life.
4. They believed in one God, where the Romans believed in many gods, especially Caesar.
5. However, they wanted to hear what he believed and what he had to say.
C. Next, Luke tells us, “So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.”
1. As a result of his meeting with the Jewish leaders, a meeting was set up for people to come to Paul’s house.
2. Notice that the text says that “a large number of people,” came to hear what Paul had to say. Jesus had promised Paul that he was going to preach the Good News in Rome, and here was his chance!
3. It was an all-day event (and you think my sermons are long), in which Paul used the OT to explain the Good News to them. No doubt Paul went all the way back to Abraham, as well as the prophets.
4. Then, with great mastery, he showed how Jesus coming, living, dying, and rising, completely fulfilled all of God’s promises and every Jewish hope.
5. Paul’s main focus was on the Kingdom of God, which ironically, was also a major focus of Jesus. “One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” (Lk. 17:20-21).
6. It is doubtful Paul preached all day, but rather there was a lot of back-and-forth conversations.
7. As a result of what Paul said, some of them were persuaded.
8. This doesn’t mean that they were saved and followed Jesus, but the verb here means they were beginning to believe.
D. However, some of them did not believe. Luke tells us in vv. 25-27, “And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, 26 ‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 27 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.”
1. Here, Paul uses a couple of verses from the prophet Isaiah to show them that they knew God from an academic way, but they really didn’t know God personally.
2. In other words, they knew about God in their heads but not in their hearts. Knowing God in your head leads to being religious. This leads to overused cliches and meaningless rituals.
3. As John Wesley once said, “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out” (https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1316030).
4. Unless our hearts belong to Jesus, nothing in our heads means anything.
E. Then in Paul’s final words to them he said, “So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”
1. Paul stated that if the Jews wouldn’t soften their hearts and receive Jesus, that the Gentiles would hear the Good News and they would accept it!
2. From this point on, Paul would focus his attention on those who would listen and respond, the Gentiles.
3. He was no longer going to waste his time with those who wouldn’t listen.
F. Luke concludes his writing with, “For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.”
1. Luke’s writing end suddenly, but this wasn’t unusual. Lots of ancient writings end suddenly.
2. While Paul was under house arrest he continued to minister.
3. He wrote letters, commonly known as the Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians.
4. He also wrote personal letters like Philemon.
5. Luke shows the Good News going forward to Rome just as the Great Commission had commanded.
6. Then he leaves us with the voice of victory: “and no one tried to stop him!”
Transition: Now, let’s take a look at…
II. What We Learn from Acts
A. The blueprint for the New Testament Church is to go out and tell people about Jesus!
1. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
2. When we first started this series, I told you that the Book of Acts is the blueprint for the New Testament Church.
3. Repeatedly over the past three years I have told you to go out and tell people about Jesus. The reason I have told you this is because that is what the early church did!
4. If it worked for them, it would work for us. And it has worked for us!
5. They weren’t highly educated or well trained. They just went out and told people what Jesus had done for them. And that’s what we need to do.
6. Like them, we have to be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
B. When we go, we need to go in the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. “And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29-31).
2. If you think you’ve got it rough, imagine being one of the disciples. Last I checked none of you has been sent to prison or been whipped because you told someone about Jesus. But they were!
3. In fact, they had just been held captive for telling people about Jesus, and they were sternly warned not to speak of Him again. There response was “do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him?”
4. Instead of backing down, they went back and gathered with the other believers and prayed for “great boldness!”
5. After they finished praying for this, the Holy Spirit came down on them in power, and the building they were meeting in shook!
6. Wouldn’t it be great if the Holy Spirit came down on us so powerfully that the building shook!
7. Let’s go out and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit!
C. Acts 29
1. What? You mean there’s another chapter?
2. No, what I’m saying is that we are still writing the Book of Acts.
3. Like I said earlier, Acts ends with a coma and not a period.
4. As long as we are still following the blueprint for the New Testament Church, the Book of Acts is still being written.
5. There’s no reason we can’t; we have the same Holy Spirit that they did, and we have the same message they had.
6. Let’s keep writing new chapters in Acts until Jesus comes!
Conclusion
What’s the point preacher? As long as we follow the blueprint for the New Testament church, we still have chapters to write and souls to save. So, let’s go out in boldness and do the work we have been given. Amen.
