Scripture
Acts 28:23-31
"Let it be known
to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will
listen." —Acts 28:28
PAUL EVANGELIZES IN ROME
28:28 After they had set a day to meet with him, they came
to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he
explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to
convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. 24Some
were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. 25So
they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further
statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through
the prophet Isaiah,
26 ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed
listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 27For
this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and
they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and
listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn—and I would
heal them.'
28Let it be known to you then that this salvation
of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." 30He
lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to
him, 31proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord
Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Imagine Paul's anticipation as he departed from Malta on the
last leg of his journey. Although an imperial appearance was the premise for
the journey, Paul's visit would allow him to pursue another phase of his
missionary program. He would meet with the Jewish community there from whom he
hoped to add more converts.
The presence of Christianized Jews in Rome means that other
missionaries had some successes there. You may recall reading about Priscilla
and Aquila in Acts 18. They probably left Rome after Emperor Claudius ordered
all Jews to leave around 49 A.D. At the end of Claudius's ban about six years
later, many returned to Rome. Based on Paul's greetings to Priscilla and Aquila
in Rom. 16:3, we have reason to believe that they may have been in the throng
of enthusiastic believers who hurried to welcome Paul.
In v. 16, the "we" narration of Acts ends at the
conclusion of the final travel story. This passage records Paul's attempts to
convince the Roman Jews that Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment of all their
hopes. Like Jesus did on the road to Emmaus, Paul uses the Scriptures, from Moses
to the Prophets, as his teaching points (see Luke 24:27). Like the disciples,
who mixed joy with disbelief when Jesus appeared to them in Luke 24:36-41, some
of the Roman Jews remain unconvinced.
The inclusion of Isa. 9:6-10 is a bit curious. One might
read it as Paul's frustration that his people are rejecting the complete
salvation that Jesus offers. Its inclusion might be interpreted as affirmation
of God's ongoing work with the wayward people of Israel and all humankind.
Because some Jews rejected Paul was no cause for him to give up. Paul was no
quitter, as the rest of the passage clearly indicates.
Paul preached the realm of God and taught about the Lord
Jesus Christ. He used Scripture to draw pictures of God's realm. He wanted to
nurture a beloved community of .believers who lived out the lessons Jesus
taught. In today's Scripture, we see glimpses of some of these lessons in
action. Paul welcomes all who come to him, who provide for his needs and share
generously with others. He spent long hours in discussions with other religious
leaders, using familiar texts to underscore his points. He pledged his
allegiance to God's rule, not to the emperor, while establishing himself as one
of God's chosen people. Speaking to the power of the gospel, Paul refused to
let the Jews retain exclusive rights to their status as chosen people. Paul
affirmed that the gospel is freely given to all who would hear it and believe,
Gentile or Jew alike.
GO, THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLES
Paul taught and preached boldly and without hindrance. Along
with Peter, Stephen, and many others, thousands of converts began to be
followers of the Way of Jesus. Yet many others remained unconvinced. It was no
doubt discouraging for the apostles, as it is for contemporary Christians who
wish to share the joy of our salvation with others.
The extravagant promises of salvation continue to hold
appeal for the underserved and underprivileged today. There are many who are
hopeless enough to see the radical good news as life giving. For those of us
who live more comfortable lives, the prospect of sharing all things (see Acts
4) may hold little attraction. We have grown used to a "What's yours is
yours, and what's mine is mine" way of living. Is it so surprising, then,
that the fastest growing bodies of Christ in the world are in the Southern Hemisphere,
Asia, and Africa? In parts of the world where economic, social, and political
justice is but a dream, Christianity offers a hope unlike anything offered by
an earthly ruler or power structure.
THE REST OF THE STORY
It is tempting to simplify the world into black and white
when shades of gray predominate. Acts does not limit the world to two camps,
children of light and children of darkness. It includes the people of Malta,
who hosted Paul but did not convert to follow the Way and others who did not
heed Paul's call to follow Christ. God seems to have been working God's
purposes out even through nonbelievers. Outsiders were brought into the fold,
however. They included the Ethiopian eunuch of questionable sexual identity;
Cornelius, the Roman citizen; and many in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, and elsewhere
who did not growing up hearing about Moses and the prophets at their parents'
knees. The audience Luke intended to address was a persecuted minority fighting
for its life. Acts is not a description of a self-satisfied, secure band of
believers. Instead it tells the story of dispersed groups of believers who
remain under threat and are at risk of losing hope. Perhaps one of the lessons
today's church can take from a fresh reading of this amazing book is its
witness to the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the world.
Perhaps another lesson we might discern is the continued
existence of dissent and disagreement among people of faith. Paul and his
colleagues remain in conversation with those who believe differently or do not
believe at all. Differences in communities of faith existed in each community
in which Paul traveled, as his letters to Rome, Corinth, and Galatia attest.
Yet they remained part of the wider church. They were part of a fellowship
grounded in the realm of God, the reign of Christ, and the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. We belong to denominations often at odds about what constitutes
essential matters of faith and practice. We live among other Christians who do
not believe or do as we do. As citizens of an increasingly global world, we
interact with people who follow no god or other gods, or who believe
differently in the same God. As we do so, we might acknowledge the existence of
disagreement, dissent, and unbelief. Instead of wringing our hands over its
existence, perhaps we should give thanks that it provides us ongoing ways to
share the good news with all whom we meet, in ways that work for our audiences
and in our time.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
How many other Christian houses of worship exist in your
community? What non-Christian traditions are represented? Have you engaged in
intentional interfaith dialogue with others? Why or why not?
What parts of this study of Acts have been most helpful to
you? Which remain problematic?
What teachings of Jesus do you most need to hear on a
regular basis in order to remain a faithful witness to the good news?
PRAYER
Ever-living, ever-teaching God, we have much to learn in order
to be faithful followers of Christ. Open our hearts and heads, and use our
hands and feet to show what good news looks like in everyday and extraordinary
ways. Use the words of our mouths—spoken and written—to tell others the stories
of Paul and Priscilla, of Martha and Mary, of Ruth and Noah, and of your Son,
Jesus, and all the disciples and apostles who follow him throughout the ages.
Amen.
Compiled from The Present Word and Congregational Ministries Publishing is not liable for for the content of this Bible Study and Blog.
From The Present Word © 2012 Congregational Ministries Publishing. Used by permission.
