Dwell in the Word: Acts 28:17-30

Think on these questions as you dwell in Acts 28:17-30:

1. Reflecting on the conclusion of the Book of Acts, how does the statement, "Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen," summarize the overarching theme and mission of the book? What significance does this hold for believers today?

2. In the final verses, Paul continues to proclaim the kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness. How can modern-day believers draw inspiration from Paul's unwavering commitment to sharing the gospel, and what practical steps can individuals take to emulate this boldness in their own lives?

3. The book concludes with an emphasis on the universality of the gospel, reaching beyond specific cultural or ethnic boundaries. How does this universal message challenge and encourage believers to actively engage in sharing the gospel with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures? How can Christians today embody the inclusivity of the gospel message?

Transcript:

 So, it has been quite a journey through 28 chapters of the Book of Acts, has it not? It's been an interesting book. Now remember back to the beginning, what I said. And I, unfortunately, I haven't brought it up for a while because it just hasn't come to mind. But as we think about where the Book of Acts has gone, let's remember what Jesus said at the beginning.

You will be my witnesses to Jerusalem and Judea. And to the ends of the earth, right? This is the story of the book of acts Started out in Jerusalem where the ascension occurred where Pentecost occurred It went out into Judea and then as persecution continued as the Jewish people were more prone to unbelief It went out to the ends of the earth.

Think of all the places that we've seen Paul go and proclaim the gospel. And we read at the end here that he continues to do so even after this episode in Rome. And so, what happened here? You know, what, what is happening? What is being summed up here? Why does Acts end here? You know, is Luke to the end of, of what he wants to tell?

You know, um, if this was written later, we may, well, I would say we would likely Get the story of Paul's martyrdom. Had this book been written when Paul was martyred in, I think it was in 67, 66, 67 under Nero you'd think Luke would, would tell that story, but he does not. There's, he's telling the story to Theophilus.

Theophilus was a Greek and so there's this story here at the end that sort of sums up this idea that the gospel Has gone to the gentiles so when Paul is in Rome we get this detail of how he goes to the Jewish people there and he Tries to convince some of them of the gospel and he does this from the Moses and from the prophets and as always some believe Uh, there's nothing against a Jewish person coming to faith, not in that day and not in this day.

Many of them had hard hearts. And so, Paul quotes from the Old Testament, talking about how, you know, if their eyes were open, they, they would see, they would turn, they would be healed, but no, they've rejected the story of the gospel. And so, Paul has here, we see it in verse 28, this statement, therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles.

They will listen.  Now, notice what, what is Luke trying to help us understand? We actually see this in the Gospel of Luke, too, or yeah, the Gospel of Luke as well, where Luke is reminding us, that Jesus is going to all people, to all nations. So as the book of Acts finishes up here, this is this powerful statement from from Paul.

The Gentiles will listen. I'm going to go to them.  And then we read that he lived for two years at his own expense in Rome and People came to him. He continued to proclaim the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness without hindrance and boom We are at the end of the gospel of Acts.

So, what is the story here? And this It's a particular story that Luke is telling, but also the story that Luke has told us throughout the book of Acts.  Well, it's the truth that the gospel will continue to go forth. That God has ordained that this is the message that not only goes to the Hebrew people, to the Jews, but it goes to the Gentiles.

It goes to all the earth. This is a message not only for a particular people group in a particular place in a particular time. It is a message for you and for I as well.  So, what do we do with the book of Acts?  First off, we praise God because I, I know there are not too many people who listen to me here and most of you I know you're not Hebrew people.

Genetically speaking, you would not be the people of God. But because of what has happened in Christ, because of the story in the book of Acts, of the gospel going to the Gentiles, you are the people of God. You are a people for God's own possession, because of what Christ has done, and because the gospel has been sent to you.

What a wonderful piece of news, that not only did the gospel come to our ears, but the Holy Spirit worked faith in our hearts, and we believed the good news.  And then the second point, and it's been a point that we've made so many times in the book of Acts, but it needs to be made again. We are to continue to proclaim the good news.

No matter what happens, we are to continue to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness. And so may we be that people, may we find the opportunities to do that. May we think back to our time now in the book of Acts and think, how can I be faithful as Paul was faithful?

How can I be that person who tells other people about Jesus, whether that's people in my own family or my friends or wherever I'm at? How can we be faithful witnesses to what Jesus has done in our lives and what he has done to save a people for himself?