To the Ends of the Earth
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1. Introduction
Well, what are my favourite movies of all time is this movie called inception. I wonder if you have heard of it. It’s just brilliant. Brilliantly made. Great actors. Christopher Nolan the genius director. Awesome soundtrack.
So this bloke Dom Cobb this guy is a professional thief. He doesn’t steal money. He with his team, have the ability to get into people’s dreams and incept ideas into their subconsciousness. It’s just a great idea of a movie. I couldn’t of dreamed of it.
So this Japanese bloke named Saito he is super impressed with Dom’s ability to layer multiple dreams within each other. Okay I tell you you have to watch the movie a few times to get it. That’s why I bought the DVD. So he wants Dom to incept the idea into Rob to dissolve his father’s business. he’s gonna take over his fathers energy business because his dad is about to die. By doing this Saito says that he will clear Dom’s criminal record so go home to see his children.
Now what got the blogosphere buzzing even 12 years on was this: what’s with the ending? See in the movie each person knows whether they’re in a dream by testing their totem. This is an object they use to test if they are dreaming or not. So at the end of the movie, he gets his name cleared, he incepts the dream successfully into Rob the business is dissolved, he’s dealt with his own demons, this is big theme with his wife terrorising his dreams i won’t get into it, watch the movie. So he spins his totem it’s a spinning top… it keeps spinning and spinning and the movie ends. if it falls he’s in reality. if it keeps spinning he’s in a dream state. but the screen goes black. Was it all a dream? what an ending. people are still arguing about that 12 years on. What is with the ending of Inception?
Acts is not a work of fiction like Inception. It’s not made up. Luke writes a careful and extraordinary work of history. It’s history. Real events. Real people. But it’s historical narrative – history told in story form to make a point. It’s a brilliant narrative. But a little bit like Inception, people are still going, what’s with the ending in Acts? We’ve been through 27 chapters and followed the Gospel spread with unstoppable momentum. The last 14 chapters following Paul around the Mediterranean. And the last almost 10 chapters following Paul to Rome to testify to the empire himself.
Luke is the master of a courtroom drama. Paul goes from trial to trial make his way to the biggest trial. In front of Caesar. So we might expect Luke to at least tell us what happens to Paul in front of Caesar. Nothing.
We might at the very least expect Luke to tell us what happened to Paul. Did he live or die? Luke does not give us any of this. Luke is ruthless in what he leaves out. He is a brilliant careful writer.
He doesn’t tell us what we want to know, but what we need to know. It’s not the same thing. God always tells us what we need to know. Here’s the thing. There’s something more important than what happens to Paul in the end. What are they? Three things. As we sum up our series, this great journey we’ve been on in Acts. three reflections we see in this passage and all throughout Acts.
2. God is faithful to his word (28:11-16)
The first is this: God is faithful to his word. God always proves faithful to his word. This is no surprise.
Notice, at the beginning of our passage, we find Paul and his companions Julius the centurion set sail again. Three months have past. Winter is over. It’s safe to sail again. Come to Verse 11 with me.
After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.
Did you notice that Luke includes detail of a twin figurehead. They are Caster and Pollux. Seems random. But Luke is not being random. These were Greek demigods Castor and Pollux. They are suppose to protect the sailors out in sea. But Luke’s saying, now that the weather’s cleared up, now they rock up. Where were they when the wild weather and shipwreck happened?
They are useless. Fake gods. But the true living God is faithful. He has brought them through the storm safely. He is the one true God. So we get the list of ports they visit in verses 12-13, and we see that God is faithful. End of verse 14. Did you see it?
acts 28:14
There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
More than 2.5 years ago God declared he would preach the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles in Rome. God does what he says. It looked so unlikely, trials, shipwrecks, snake bites but God is faithful. He keeps his word. God always keeps his word. Every single time. and it’s true what numbers 23:19 says
God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
He doesn’t lie. He says he will do it. it’s guaranteed that he will do it.
Friends God has made us very great and precious promises. We trust in the Gospel, on his very word. We stand on solid rock. When you rest in his promises. You rest secure. He will keep each and every one of them.
So when you doubt God – this is my first implication, remember God’s Word. Remember God bringing Paul to Rome. Remember it wasn’t easy for Paul. We’ve spent so much time studying Paul’s trials, physical stoning, emotional rejection, mob mentality, the crazy storms snake bites. It doesn’t stop him trusting God. Yes, how God does this might not meet your expectations. But remember his ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts higher than ours. Trust him. He is faithful. Jesus died for us. he will surely bring us home. Trust him. He says he disciplines the ones he loves – reading this with Joy the other night in Proverbs, trust him. He says to Paul he’s going to Rome. Paul trusts him.
God is faithful to his word.
His word does not change. God is faithful.
Now of course, you know what else does not change? God’s faithful 100%. God’s message. The Gospel. It does not change. That’s my second point;
3. God’s message does not change (28:17-29)
Stay faithful to God’s unchanging Gospel.
See when they arrived in Rome, Paul is allowed to live in a rented accommodation. He is under house arrest. Normally there are two soldiers on guard. Paul has one. Maybe Julius has written a good report about him. He doesn’t need a second guard. Maybe they are cost cutting or Paul’s got a good reputation.
He seems comfortable but he is under house arrest. He can’t go to the synagogue to preach he calls the local leaders of the Jews to come to him. Not sure how he did that but he’s a determined bloke. He wants to get out on the front foot. Explain himself. Clear the air about any bad news they may have heard about him. He says to them; Guys I’m a faithful Jew. Verse 17
After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
Do you get what Paul’s saying? He says im here because I believe that God has sent the King, the hope of Israel. He’s come. This is the Messiah that you have been waiting for, for hundred of years! That’s why I’m here. I want to clear that up with you.
But the truth is, the Jewish community in Rome have not received any bad news about Paul. No body from Jerusalem has said anything bad about him. But they are interested. They want to hear about Christianity, verse 22
But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”
No one has spoken bad about you Paul. But Christianity has a bad name. it’s got a bad reputation. is this true? Clear this up for us.
So in verse 23 they bring a bunch of mates. And Paul, never one to let an evangelistic opportunity slip, he runs a whole day seminar. From morning till evening he explains the Kingdom of God and Jesus from their own Old Testament Scriptures.
What’s the outcome? How did they respond?
acts 28:24
And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
That’s the pattern you see in Acts. Paul preaches. Some believe. Many reject the Gospel. So Paul leaves them with a warning. He doesn’t pull any punches. He quotes from Isaiah 6. This would be ringing in their ears. He goes remember that your own forefathers rejected God’s message. It’s too late for them. They were judged because of they didn’t repent. they didn’t turn from their sin and trust God. Remember that? Verse 27
acts 28:27
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
I would’ve saved them if they soften their hearts. Soften your hearts. Don’t be like them. Don’t repeat their mistake. Listen to the warning.
And then he adds verse 28
acts 28:28
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
You’ve been waiting for the Messiah. He’s come. He’s your hope. He’s our hope of salvation. Don’t let them receive Him and you miss out.
Some would have taken that warning seriously. They would be listen to Paul in the two whole years he spent time. And some continued to reject the Gospel. They continued longing for the Christ to come. but he is already here.
Two things I want to highlight here from this conversation;
First - Paul’s message here is the same message from the very beginning of Acts. The risen Lord Jesus told them they will testify about him. Here at the end of Acts, Paul teaches about the kingdom of God. He testifies about Jesus death and resurrection. It’s the same message we received today by faith all these centuries later. Jesus is the Saviour King. Receive forgiven of your sins.
This is the same message the late Queen Elizabeth delivered. She said in her 2011 Christmas message “History teaches us we…need saving from ourselves. From our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world neither a philosopher or a general, but a saviour with the power to forgive.”
Receive forgiveness from God. Be right with him. he’s coming to judge. if you don’t know Jesus, you are not right with God. You need forgiveness. He has sent his saviour Jesus, our only hope. Put your faith in Him. It’s always been this message. We cannot change it.
See many want to change the message. They want to abandon the Gospel. They reject Gods message, the Gospel and pretend they are doing God’s work. No body gets to change the message found in the Bible. It’s not out of step, it’s not outdated. No body gets to change the message. This is what saves people.
Gods message does not change.
The second thing to highlight. if the message doesn’t change, neither does the response. Remember Peter. Remember Paul. They preach, many receiveit. Trust in Jesus it, but so many reject. There’s more and more opposition. When Paul preaches, The mob want to lynch him. Festus thinks he’s out of his mind, his great learning has driven him crazy. But he does not stop preaching the Gospel. Some receive and some reject. we’ve seen that consistently in Acts. And here in the last chapter, it’s the same thing. Some believe, many reject. But he does not stop preaching the Gospel.
See the pattern?
In my home group, when we talk about why we don’t speak the Gospel. What’s the biggest reason we don’t speak? What do you think? It’s fear. We fear rejection. We fear friends, family disapproving, awkwardness. I hate awkward silences, I always want to fill the silence with some witty comment. But all through Acts, even here, some people receive Jesus. Many many reject Jesus. It’s been like that from the beginning. It’s actually part of the Christian life. We’re following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus. It's weird if you don’t get rejected. If the world rejected your Lord and Saviour, why would it be different for you? Of course, I don’t think we like it. Of course it hurts. But embrace it because you love the lost. More than that you love Jesus. Embrace it as you obey Christ. If I don’t speak because it’s uncomfortable it means I fear others. It means I love their opinion more than I love them. it’s better to lose face than lose a soul. It’s not love if we stay silent.
Plenty will reject us. It’s part of our walk with the Lord. But it’s not a reason not to share the Gospel. It’s actually our privilege, our responsibility to share the Gospel. And this is my final point. While the book ends, the story does not. God’s gospel continues to spread. It continues to go out. It’s a brilliant ending from Luke.
4. God’s Gospel continues to spread (28:30-31)
I hope by now you know it off by heart. Acts theme verse 1:8
acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
And here Paul is in Rome. The Gospel has made it all the way there. And he spends a lot of time there. Verse 30
acts 28:30-31
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
What does Paul continue to do? Proclaims the Kingdom of God. Teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Paul is in the heart of the empire. But for Theophilus, this is who Luke wrote this book for. He would not have thought Rome is the ends of the earth. It’s the centre of the universe at that time. The Gospel hasn’t gone to the ends of the earth when it gets to Rome. But from Rome, the Gospel can go anywhere.
Remember earlier in Acts, Paul preached in Ephesus for two years. Two years preaching the Gospel. Churches popped up everywhere. Here, two years spent teaching in the heart of the empire itself. Rome. Imagine the fruit of that, as people from everywhere under the sun and return home. People like
The Ethiopian eunuch,
Cornelius the centurion
Lydia
The Philippian jailer
Dioynius and Damaris in Athens
Crispus synagogue ruler in Corinth
Apollos
Timothy
Sophater the Berean
Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Ticichus,
Thousands of Jews and Gentiles unnamed who trusted in Jesus.
Alongside plenty of rejection. How many more were added in Rome.
God brings Paul to Rome.
It’s not the end of the story. It’s was just the beginning of the end. God brings his Gospel to a place where it can go everywhere. To the ends of the earth.
It’s happened hasn’t it? We gather to praise God here in Melbourne. The land down under. We gather to celebrate the Kingdom of God. The risen king Jesus. And we continue preach about this Kingdom to those who don’t know Christ. God’s Gospel continues to spread today.
See Luke does not tie up Paul’s story. It’s intentional. Yes, he’s a main character. But he’s not the hero. God is. It’s about Jesus. It’s the acts of the risen Lord Jesus. The Acts of God, the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Paul and the Apostles are his instruments. But he is the master working out his plan. It’s God who takes his message to the ends of the earth. IT’s about God’s plan for the Gospel to go to every person. Nothing can stop it. Nothing can hinder the Gospel
Not Saul the persecutor, who God converted
Not prisons – they are broken open
Not kings – they are struck down
Not assassination plots – they are stopped
Not mobs
Not stoning
Not the forces of nature.
not gender ideology
not political parties
not governments
Nothing can stop the spead of the Gospel
For 2000 years God has been spreading the message of the Gospel unhinded. Nothing can stop it spreading.
We are his instruments
He doesn’t need us but he graciously choses to use us.
So Luke asks us this question at the end; What will we do with the Gospel? Will we pick up the baton and run with it? it didn’t stop with Paul. It didn’t stop in Rome. It’s gone here because people have picked up the baton after Paul and run with it. They preached the Gospel.
And we are waiting for Christ to return. that’s what we are doing. But in meantime we have a job to do. our job is to tell people about Jesus. The kingdom of God with boldness.
Acts demands that you will play your part in God’s plan. If this book hasn’t challenged you in what part you can play I have failed you or you have a hard heart. This book challenges you to have in your first priority - The Gospel. Tell others the Gospel, support the Gospel. We have opportunities to do this. We can support Paul as an MTS to see the Gospel spread. We can give to church to see more Gospel work happen. We can work together; come up with ideas to get the Gospel out - I’d love ideas I’d love for us to do this together. you can preach the gospel to your friends and family. Friends, the reason we are here is not to live a comfortable life. it is not to accumulate possessions. give our kids opportunities. not to live a safe and godly life. it is to share christ and his Gospel to the ends of the earth. that’s why we are here. that’s why Jesus has not return.
God is faithful, his message doesn’t change and the Gospel will continue to spread. Let’s get on with the task. Let’s pray