November 01, 2023 | Be On Mission
Paul Talks about Jesus & Kingdom for Two Years
Scripture: Acts 28:30-31(NIV)
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
Devotional
The book of Acts ends abruptly. It doesn’t tell about Paul’s appearance before Emperor Nero, when his house arrest ended, where he traveled next, or when he was arrested again and brought back to Rome. It simply says:
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ— with all boldness and without hindrance!”
Face it, Paul had a captive audience; he was chained to his Roman prison guard! And as these guys rotated shifts, he would start in again. He did this for two years. There is no way that at least some of them didn’t become believers.
Others were allowed to come and go as well, including Jews and Gentiles, believers and unbelievers, laborers and scholars, men and women. Paul saw them all the same: potential followers of Jesus who needed to be discipled in the faith.
Perhaps it is best that the book of Acts ends this way. There is no dramatic finish that brings everything to resolution in a triumphal or horrific ending. Acts 28 simply stops, making the reader turn the page to look for Acts 29.
Our theme for this study has been “Be on Mission” challenging us to be everyday missionaries where we live, work, learn, and play. We today are called to go to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth to be witnesses for Jesus. Acts 29 is about us.
The good news of Jesus Christ is not simply a historical fact (which it is) about a person who was God in the flesh (which He was) who brought salvation and ordered His followers to share with others (which He did). The good news of Jesus Christ is our story as well. He is calling us to fully surrender our lives to Him, to be filled with His Holy Spirit, and to proclaim the kingdom of God wherever we go.
I look forward to living out Acts 29 with you…
Poem
Open Door
My door is always open
Come in, sit down and feast
I’ll lay my best before you
Christ’s gospel, full, complete
I want to share it with you
The very best with pleasure
I hope you will enjoy the meal
It is my greatest treasure
