The End of the Beginning - Acts 28:11-31

“The End of the Beginning”

Acts 28:11-31

©Copyright 2004 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, March 21, 2004

This morning, after 45 sermons and fourteen months of study, we complete our initial study of the book of Acts. I call it our “initial study” because this is a book we will return to again and again because it gives us the historical framework for many of the New Testament letters.

In Acts chapter 21 we read about the initial arrest of the Apostle Paul on trumped up charges that arose from unwarranted assumptions. Paul was accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple courts. A riot developed and the Romans took Paul into custody. Eventually, Paul received a change of venue to Caesarea. From there, Paul appealed his case to Caesar. This put Paul on a grain ship heading to Rome. The ship was caught in hurricane force winds and after a harrowing two weeks on the sea, ran aground on the island of Malta. Paul and the other prisoners were on Malta for three months while they waited out the winter. This is where we pick up the story.

In early February the winds had changed and those who had been shipwrecked found an Alexandrian ship that was heading to Italy. It is interesting (and perhaps amusing) that Luke records that the ship bore the insignia of Castor and Pollux. These were men from Greek mythology known as patron deities who would protect them from the dangers of the sea. Certainly Luke did not believe in this superstition, but may have seen the irony and been amused by it.

It was 80 miles to Syracuse on the island of Sicily. They stayed here for three days (perhaps waiting for favorable winds). Next they sailed 70 miles to Rhegium on the tip of Italy. The very next day the winds were favorable so they made the 180 mile trip to Puteoli.

THE JOY OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

As the group landed in the heart of Italy at Puteoli, Paul, Luke and Aristarchus found some believers there. Don’t miss the significance of these words. Paul had been in jail, on the sea, and stranded on the island of Malta for many months. Though many had surely come to faith through his ministry, it was a very draining time. To arrive at Puteoli and find brothers and sisters in Christ lifted his spirit. The seven days with these believers must have been a time of great refreshment.

As the entourage moved forward on land from Puteoli they met a “welcoming party” at the forum on the Appian Way (which was one of the main highways leading into Rome) and then further believers at the town of Three Taverns. Most likely some of the believers at Puteoli had gone on to Rome to report Paul’s impending arrival. (These early believers had received a letter from Paul, our book of Romans, before this time).

As Paul was trudging toward Rome he certainly must have been somewhat intimidated by the thought of entering this great city and the uncertainty that his future held. These brothers and sisters brought courage to Paul’s heart. He was reminded that he was not alone in the journey.

We need each other. We draw strength and give strength to each other. As we gather together each week we are reminded that we do not face the battle alone. No matter how tough your week has been, you will feel new courage as you greet and enjoy your brothers and sisters in Christ. We need regular times of Christian fellowship or we will shrivel up and die spiritually.

Christian fellowship is an amazing thing. You can meet someone who is from an entirely different part of the country or different part of the world and still feel a closeness with them because you know that they are a brother or sister in Christ.

Do you make time for regular involvement with the people of God? Do you worship regularly? Are you involved with Christians during the week? The first thing Paul reminds us is that we need each other.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHRISTIAN WITNESS

When Paul arrived in Rome he was allowed to live in his own rented home (probably paid for by the believers in Rome). He had a guard chained to him but he was free to entertain others. He wasted little time fulfilling his purpose of testifying of the Lord in Rome. He gathered the various synagogue leaders and introduced himself. Paul knew that even if these leaders did not know anything about him, they would still have some preliminary questions: “Why are you a prisoner”, or “What are you in for?”

Paul needed to address these barriers to communication before he would ever be heard. He explained that he had been arrested but had done nothing wrong. The Romans had examined him and found him innocent but when the Jewish leaders protested, he felt constrained to appeal his case to Rome.

You and I may have to address various issues before we can share the gospel as well. Perhaps we may have to show that the faith we profess is actually the faith we possess. People will not listen to someone who talks about their faith in God but who lives like a child of the Devil. We may also have to show that we are genuinely concerned for the person and not just trying to get conversions or new giving units for our congregation. We must build bridge that will enable us to share the Word of truth.

The synagogue leaders said they knew nothing about his case (remember his was the last ship to leave during the fall sailing season and the first to arrive under the new spring winds.) It is unlikely that anyone would have gotten to Rome before Paul. It is also likely that the court documents that would have accompanied Paul were lost in the sea. Commendably, these men are willing to listen to Paul and his ideas.

Luke tells us several things about Paul’s testimony. First, he taught them about the “Kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus.” Paul could have discussed the differences between Christianity and Judaism. He could have debated the sacrificial system, the purification rites, and many other issues. Instead Paul kept the focus on the main issue: the person and work of Christ. This is good advice for us. Our message should always point to Jesus. It is Christ who saves and not our brilliant arguments or testimonies.

Second, notice that Paul argued from the Scriptures. For Paul, this meant using the Old Testament. (Sadly, most of us would be in trouble if we had to prove the gospel and could only use the Old Testament.) Paul did what Jesus did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus: he started with the law of Moses and the prophets and showed how the Bible pointed to Jesus alone as the Messiah.

As fellow believers we must remember that it is the Word of God that is sharper than a two-edged sword. It is God’s Word that is a lamp to the feet of those who are in darkness. It is God’s Word that carried the power to open hearts and minds. We must not rely on ourselves. We must be “people of the book”. We must stand on the authority of the Word of God.

In order to do this we have to first be students of the Scriptures. How well do you know God’s Word? Do you spend time daily listening to God as He speaks to us through the Scriptures? Could you open your Bible and use it to explain the way of salvation to your friends, family and neighbors? If your Bible(s) had been confiscated, would you still be able to draw comfort and guidance from God’s Word because it is hidden in your heart?

Finally, Paul knew not everyone would believe. He quoted the words of Isaiah 6 when Isaiah was told to proclaim the gospel to the people, even though they would harden their hearts and refuse to believe. As we share the faith we must always remember that it is not our job to get conversions. Our job is to share the truth and extend the invitation of God’s grace. The Holy Spirit alone must bring sight to the spiritually blind.

Can you see why this is important? If the focus is on getting results the temptation is to change the message so it will be “more acceptable”. When we change the message we teach a false gospel and do more harm than good. In simple terms using the book of Romans, the gospel declares

· Romans 3:23 We have all rebelled against God

· Romans 6:23 Our rebellion leads to a spiritual death sentence

· Romans 5:8 God sent Christ to take our punishment for us, He came to be our substitute

· Romans 10:9 This gift is granted to those who believe in the Risen Christ as Savior and Lord.

· Romans 10:13 The offer of new life is for anyone who will believe.

Not everyone will respond to this truth. The message of salvation runs counter to our human ego. We want to believe we can earn Heaven by doing good things or learning the right information. Unfortunately, this is to seriously underestimate the power and nature of our sin. Our job is to tell the truth . . . it is God’s job to cause that truth to come alive in the hearts of those who hear.

THE END OF THE BEGINNING

The book of Acts ends somewhat abruptly. We are told Paul proclaimed the message freely for two years and no one tried to stop him. The question is: what happened after the two years? Why doesn’t Luke finish the story? We must remember that Luke did not set out to tell the story of Paul. His purpose was to relate the story of the expansion of the gospel. Paul’s arrival in Rome and the declaration that he was able to preach freely was a good place for Luke’s account to end.

Scholars believe that Paul was released from jail after these two years. In the book of Philippians Paul indicated that he expected that he would be released. In the books of 1 and 2 Timothy and Tituse (known as the Pastoral epistles) Paul refers to places not mentioned in Acts. It is possible that Paul even went as far as Spain in his missionary journeys.

In around AD 67 (a few years after his release) Paul was probably re-arrested by Nero after the fire that almost destroyed Rome. At this time Paul was thrown into prison where he wrote 2 Timothy. His demeanor is much different this time. As he wrote this final letter, Paul felt abandoned by fellow believers, he was cold, and lonely. He knew the fight was almost over. Tradition tells that Paul was beheaded in 67 or 68 AD.

CONCLUSIONS

Let’s draw a couple of final conclusions from our study.

First, we are reminded once again of God’s gracious provision for His children. As Paul arrived in Rome it was a fulfillment of God’s promise. God did what He said He would do. Throughout the book of Acts we have been reminded that the road of discipleship is often difficult, but God is always faithful. He gives us strength and courage for the trials of life. Our task is to hold on to the One who is faithful and true.

Second, we see the importance of evangelism (sharing our faith with others). Everywhere James, Peter, John, Philip, Stephen and Paul went, they proclaimed the good news of forgiveness and new life in Christ. Their message was consistent, humble, Christ-centered, and Biblical. The book of Acts is a record of the church doing what Christ told them to do: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”

Jesus wants you and me to do the same. He wants us to go into our world, whether it is a classroom, a factory, a sale barn, a department store, a family gathering, a business meeting, an office, dugout, a gathering of friends or even a restaurant; and share the good news of the gospel with any who will listen. Sometimes it may only be a sentence; at other times it may be an extended conversation. It is our job to proclaim the truth and we should use any means at our disposal.

Who do you know who needs to hear the words of hope and new life? If you really thought about it, I’m sure you could come up with quite a list. But like most of us, as soon as you make your list you will start making excuses as to why you should not be the one to share the message of salvation with these people.

· I wouldn’t know what to say

· They might ask a question I can’t answer

· It might make them mad

· I have too many flaws in my own life to presume to preach to them

But we must also ask some critical questions,

· If we don’t tell these people about Jesus, who will?

· Didn’t God promise to give us the right words?

· Is there anything wrong with answering someone’s question with, “I don’t know”?

· Isn’t it possible to share the gospel in the spirit of humility (as a fellow struggler), and in love and gentleness?

As a church our job is to minister to each other, to honor God, to grow in grace and truth, and to proclaim the message of salvation to all who will hear. Please understand that we cannot maintain the status quo and still be faithful to the Lord. We can’t keep our church “the way it has always been” and still be faithful in the proclamation of the gospel. If we are faithful we will reach out to others. Some of those people will come into our fellowship. The personality of our church may change. It may be impossible to still know everyone. It may bring changes in our style of worship. It may involve different priorities for our spending. But friends, it is not our church, but His.

Imagine the joy of seeing the transformation that God can make in a life. Imagine the fun of seeing the family of God grow. Imagine the blessing of being obedient to His will. We are not a club trying to keep out certain people. We are not a business competing for customers. We are the people of God, seeking to bring the message of life and hope to those who are perishing.

The book of Acts reminds us what we are called to do. We are called to follow Him fully and to proclaim Him boldly. We are to trust Him in the circumstances of our lives and follow Him wherever He leads us, even if the way seems dark. Along the way, we are to share the message of hope with all who will listen.

As we conclude, let me ask, friend, are you here today looking for help in your life? Are you lost and feel that your life is adrift? Look to Jesus. He knows your circumstances. He knows your hidden sin and your public failures. He understands the battle that rages in your soul. He can help you. He came to earth to die and give His life to set you free from your sin, rebellion, and the chains of your past failures. The message of salvation is for you.

If you will truly trust Him, He will heal your broken heart and the deep wounds of the past. He will set you free from the things that enslave you. He will provide you with a new family of friends called the church. He will give you strength for the hard times and when it comes time to say good-bye to this world, He will be there to take you to the place that he has prepared for you.

You won’t find this new life by joining a church, signing a card, or walking an aisle. You find this new life by trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior and as your master for life. If you have never done so and wish to follow Him today, I urge you to express this desire to Him. Perhaps you would use words something like this,

Lord, I need you in my life. I am lost without you. I believe that you can make me new. I believe that Jesus died to pay for all the sin stains in my heart and life. I believe He truly rose from the dead and in doing so made it possible for me to have a new life through Him. Be born in me this day, O my Savior. Take my life and remake it as only you can. Open my eyes to your glory. Change my heart. Make me new.

If this is the expression of your heart this morning, and you mean what you said, let me be the first to say, “Welcome to the Family of God.” You are now part of a grand and glorious heritage of faith. You can always read about some of your forefathers -- in the scrapbook we call “the book of Acts”.

©Copyright 2004 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, March 21, 2004