Year 7, Day 261: Acts 28

Theological Commentary: Click Here

As we finish up the book of Acts, the focus is right where it should be.  No, it’s not on Paul.  We know it isn’t on Paul because the story doesn’t continue with Paul’s life.  We don’t know what happens to Paul.  It is one of the more frustrating elements of this book, in fact.  But it shows us that the emphasis isn’t really on Paul.  If it was, we’d know what happens to him.

The focus is on God and God’s hand at work. 

The shipwreck victims land on Malta and find a group of people who are willing to help hundreds of shipwrecked victims.  In fact, they take them in because the weather is turning poor.  What is the result of this?  The people are blessed by God’s presence.  Because of their kindness to the shipwrecked victims, God blesses them and their sick are healed.  The people who are shipwrecked are blessed by God because of their willingness to listen to God through Paul.

When Paul gets to Rome, he defends himself.  God goes before him.  The Romans are willing to listen to Paul, acknowledging that the Christians don’t have the best reputation.  As they listen, some believe and some don’t.  God’s Word spreads among those in Rome.

In fact, we do know that Paul stays in Rome for a few years, preaching and teaching. He continued to teach at his own expense.   God’s Word spreads in Rome.  Now we look back and see the end of chapter 26 in the correct light.  Yes, Agrippa was right.  Had Paul not declared that he wanted to go to Rome, he could have been sent free.  But had Paul been sent free, would he have ended up in Rome with a two-year mission to proclaim God to the people? 

This is what Acts is all about.  This is what Paul is all about.  We are to be about doing whatever it takes to get the message out.  We are to be willing to proclaim whenever and wherever God leads us.

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