July 24, 2000

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Aug. 27 Lesson

God's commission for Christians has not changed ___Acts 28:16-31 ___16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. ___17Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar--not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. 20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. ___21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect." ___23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made his final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through the prophet: 26'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but not understanding; you will be ever seeing but not perceiving." 27For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' ___28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" 29After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves. ___30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

___By Ronnie Prevost
___Last week's lesson ended with Paul on his way to Jerusalem. The trip was uneventful, a contrast with what would occur after reaching Jerusalem. It was marked by many Christian friends begging Paul not to go to Jerusalem--and many tearful farewells. Among those at Caesarea was Philip the Evangelist and his four preacher daughters.
___Paul arrived in Jerusalem to be greeted with the good news that many Jews had become believers. The bad news was many had heard that Paul was teaching Gentiles to disregard the Mosaic law. To disprove this false rumor, Paul went to the Temple with four other Jewish-Christian men to be ritually purified. Unfortunately, a crowd of Jews assumed (falsely) that Paul had taken a Gentile, Trophimus, into an area of the Temple restricted only to Jews. The Roman garrison noted the uproar in the Temple precinct and arrested Paul. Before being taken away, Paul shared with the crowd a brief account of his conversion and his call.
___Just before being flogged by the Romans, Paul rightfully claimed his Roman citizenship and was released, only to be brought by the Roman commander before the Sanhedrin. Paul's confrontation with this group was rancorous and, again, the Romans had to rescue Paul. Due to a plot against Paul's life, he was transferred to Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea. There Paul languished, imprisoned and eventually having trials or hearings before two successive governors, Felix and Festus, and Agrippa, the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who ruled as king at the favor of Rome. In each proceeding Paul defended his innocence and gave testimony to the gospel.
___Perhaps Paul was frustrated with the unnecessarily long time it was taking to resolve the issue. Maybe it was a matter of strategy. Whatever, the case, Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen and appealed his case to Caesar (see Acts 25:10-11).
___The story of Paul's trip from Caesarea to Rome is filled with drama and excitement--and far from what one might experience today on their own Mediterran-ean cruise.
___Paul was placed under the care of the centurion Julius of Augustan Cohort, an Imperial Regiment. That Julius was a man of character is proven at various points. He would save the lives of Paul and the other prisoners when another wanted to kill them to prevent their escape after the shipwreck they would endure. Also, Julius would allow Paul to visit with friends when stopped at the port of Sidon.
___Paul was accompanied by others, including Luke (the writer of Acts and the Gospel that carries his name) and Aristarchus from Thessalonica. This Aristarchus was one of the Christians falsely accused and threatened by the mob in Ephesus. He also accompanied Paul on other journeys and was referred to by Paul as a "fellow prisoner" in Colossians 4:10 and as a "fellow worker" in Philemon 1:24. Important to remember is that Paul, though prominent in many ways, was not the only Christian to take risks and to suffer for the gospel. There were many lesser known (such as Aristarchus) and, certainly, many known today only to God. (With all due respect to those described in the recent book by Tom Brokaw, in this writer's opinion, these were truly the "greatest generation.")
___This journey held danger for all, because of its late start in the fall. It began after "the fast" which is a reference to Yom Kippur, the great Jewish Day of Atonement which was celebrated on the 10th day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Though the boat on which they would travel was probably huge for its day, it would hug the coast as long as possible and winter in a safe harbor. This was due to the treacherous winds and storms of the Mediterranean winter.
___The boat's winter stopover should have been in Fair Havens on Crete. At least this was Paul's advice. However, the boat's owner and captain consulted and considered a dash to Phoenix, 50 miles further to the west on Crete. The centurion made the decision to sail on. His decision proved to be ill-advised and fateful.
___ Though this short journey started out with favorable and gentle winds, the boat soon encountered a tremendous storm. The storm is called "typhonic" (typhonikos in Greek) by Acts, and it blew the boat off course and away from Crete. Like the crew of the storm-battered boat that carried the prophet Jonah, they tried jettisoning their load. After 14 days battling the storm, they were adrift and in despair. Though Paul told them "I told you so" about the storm, he also offered some practical advice, urging them to eat for strength and regain their wills to live. Similar to the pattern followed in the Last Supper, Paul led by giving thanks, breaking bread and eating.
___The boat ran aground and broke apart on the island of Malta. The storm had blown them about 600 miles west of Crete! (The traditional site of the shipwreck is known today as St. Paul's Bay.) Paul continued to find God's protection there, not dying when bitten by a snake and earning a change in the Maltans' opinion of him. At first, they viewed Paul as a fugitive. Then they thought him a god. Paul and the others were hosted by Publius, the chief magistrate of the island. Publius' ailing father was healed after Paul laid hands on the sick man. Upon the news of this miracle, others of Malta came to Paul to be healed. When Paul and company were ready and able to leave Malta, out of gratitude the Maltans provided supplies for the journey.
___Finally, passage on another boat was gotten and the travelers sailed to Italy. They put in at Puteoli, the port city of Rome. There, brethren from Rome met them. At meeting these Christian friends Paul thanked God. His gratitude may have been for getting there at last, for safety or for the fellowship of service and work with these, heretofore, unmet brothers and sisters in Jesus. Whatever the case, Paul and his newly found family of faith trekked the 120 miles up the famous Appian Way to Rome.
___Paul was in Rome at last. Remember that for Paul this had been a long-time hope. Also, a long time had passed since leaving Caesarea--and even longer since departing Jerusalem. In Rome (and still hoping to reach Jews) Paul spoke to a local group of them. He avowed his innocence of charges against him regarding disrespect for Jewish traditions and told them a shortened version of the trouble in Jerusalem that ultimately brought him to Rome.
___Surprisingly, they had not heard of his trouble. Perhaps this non-news was due to the traveling problems over the winter. A few of these Jews had heard some of the gospel and wanted to hear more. They made arrangements to meet and discuss it. As so often happened on Paul's missionary journeys, some believed, some did not. In a final statement, Paul referred to a passage from Isaiah's call (Isaiah 6:9-10). Paul linked it to his call to preach to the Gentiles. (In Antioch in Pisidia, Paul had used Isaiah 49:6 to explain his mission to the Gentiles.) Both Isaiah and Paul had seen and experienced God for all his glory. This had exposed for each their own sinfulness and that of their people. God's call to each was related to this realization.
___For two years Paul, "boldly and without hindrance" (v. 31), would teach and preach in a house rented, apparently, at his own expense. Paul preached the kingdom and taught about the lordship of Jesus. He knew he had been under the Lord's care and it was the promises of that lordship that had brought him safely to Rome.
___Though still a prisoner and under a form of house arrest, Paul knew he still could be used by God. After all, God had certainly used him in a real prison in Philippi!
___At this point Acts closes and nothing more is known for certain about the remainder of Paul's life. This may be because the issue of Acts was the work of God through his people and not just a record of their lives (even that of Paul). But Paul's final journey is almost a summary of the book of Acts--from Jerusalem to Rome--and a reflection of what Jesus had called the disciples to do in Acts 1:8. Paul's life and journeys are proof of Jesus' promise of his presence in the lives of his people on mission (as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20) "even to the end of the age"--and to the ends of the world.
___Jesus' commission to his disciples today is the same as that which he gave to his first disciples. We must remember it is just as important for us to follow our calling as it was for those first generation Christ-ians.
___Will our names and our work be remembered? We don't know. We do know that if God's work is to continue--and if the work and legacy of those first Christians is not to have been in vain--we must do what God calls us to do. It may be no easier for us than for them, but Jesus still promises his presence. That assurance frees us to proclaim and live the gospel to all people freely and without hindrance regardless of circumstance to the end of the world and to the end of the age.

For thought and discussion
___ How was Paul's arrival in Rome and his preaching the gospel there a part of accomplishing his call and his mission in life? How was it a fulfillment of Acts 1:8?
___ The lesson compares and contrasts Paul with two Old Testament prophets: Jonah and Isaiah. How was God's call to Paul similar to that of each of those prophets? How was it different? How were the responses to their calls alike/different?
___ Read Isaiah 6:1-8. What does your worship do to help you see God and yourself more clearly? How can this prepare you to hear God's call in your life? In what areas of your life--family, work, community and/or church is God calling you? Will you respond as did Isaiah or Jonah?
___ What most concerns you about following God's call? What are some events in Paul's life that show how God's presence with and provision for him offer similar promises to you?
___ Read Romans 1:8. Could that passage mean Paul was not surprised that brethren from Rome met him at Puteoli? What was it about that meeting that inspired Paul to give thanks? Who are the fellow Christians for whom you should be grateful as co-workers in following God's call? How can you be more effective in supporting each other in fulfilling the Great Commission?

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