Saying good bye with one thing hanging in the air ... Paul?

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/356803b5/saying-good-bye-with-one-thing-hanging-in-the-airpaul-no-66-final-acts

That’s a wrap... on Acts. Time to say Good Bye.

The book concludes with Paul living in Rome at his own expense, welcoming "all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."1

But wait, things are hanging in the air! What about Paul? What happens next with Paul?

Man, I love a good story, and this has been one! 'Hard to believe that it was last April, right after we celebrated the most important day in history, that we turned the page from the account of Jesus' life to what happened next: the establishing of Christianity--how it came about, and who the major players were.

Over the past eleven+ months, we have looked at the exacting account of Acts, penned by Luke, physician and traveling companion of Paul, covering a little more than 30 years. He begins with the dramatic scene of Jesus Christ ascending into Heaven from the Mount of Olives, but first charging his followers with, 'Go, be my witnesses. Tell the world about what you have experienced of me--what you have seen me say and do.2

Ten days later, the promised Holy Spirit came to those disciples who loved Jesus so very much. The Spirit came with a sound like a howling wind, along with accompanying (visible) tongues of fire, radically impacting those gathered in prayer. 3 Immediately, a Spirit-filled Peter preached such a powerful sermon that thousands believed in the Messiah, launching the 'early' church in Jerusalem. Think of it, Peter was probably still stinging from his epic failure in denying Jesus and then this happened!4 Oy!

While I did not grow up in a church that taught much about the Holy Spirit--who he is, what he does--indwelling, transforming, equipping and empowering us; in Acts, Luke describes just how the Holy Spirit's presence changes everything. And dang, it is exciting!

And then it happened. Through the power of God, Peter heals a crippled man outside of the Temple, setting up the first opposition from the Jewish leaders, which will be a repeat theme and a growing threat throughout the entire book of Acts. When Stephen, a newly chosen servant leader in the church does the miraculous among the people and preaches Jesus, the Jewish leaders stone him to death. And, as with Jesus, the Jews involve the Romans to persecute the followers of the Way, even as James is killed by Herod Agrippa5.

All the while, we saw the joy and fulfillment of those who threw off the strictures of the Law, and learned to walk in the grace of Jesus Christ. They gathered with one another to hear the preaching of the Word, share the Lord's Supper, and meet each other's material needs. I learned about the beauty of Christian community in Acts, having desired it all my life. [Nothing this side of Heaven compares.]

And then the story intensifies with the radical transformation of Saul in chapter nine. We have a front row seat as God uses him to take the gospel into Europe and Asia - (you know 'the outer parts of the earth,' as Jesus commanded). The man Paul is a formidable force, making three long journeys, preaching Jesus, using the Hebrew scriptures and prophecies to do so, traveling some 10,000 miles and establishing 14 churches, while enduring incredibly harsh treatment.

And at long last, Paul makes it to Rome. But Luke leaves us there - Paul shackled to a Roman guard at all times, what happened then?

Early Christian sources, including Paul’s letters of 1-2 Timothy and Titus, provide clues about his next moves, suggesting Paul continued his ministry in Spain, and on to the eastern Mediterranean, in places like Ephesus and Crete.6,7,8. According to Clement (early church father, writing around AD 96), Paul underwent a far more severe imprisonment and was beheaded by Emperor Nero in the mid-60s. Pictured above and below is the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, the home of Paul's tomb.

Paul wrote 13 formative letters in the New Testament, giving us the doctrine of the Christian church. To this day, of course, the Gospel continues to go out to all the world. Aye, the story of Acts is still being written today as the Kingdom expands!

What are we to take from this incredible story? The 'players' in Acts modeled surrender to Jesus Christ, pouring out their lives as an overflowing expression of their love for him. When the Holy Spirit came and infused them with power from on high, the believers were never the same, and they left nothing on the table. They gave all to serve Christ and one another.

No longer having to make sacrifices in the Temple as law-abiding Jews, they gave themselves as an act of worship. Actually, Paul described it this way,

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, 

which is your spiritual service of worship." Romans 12.1

A prayer for today:

Lord, thank you for the Word of God which tells the story of your love for humanity.

Thank you for the book of Acts which shows us how Jesus changed the world forever, and the Holy Spirit equips us to live for you..

So, teach us how to live, God; prompt us to share your love with others and

do whatever it takes to be a participant in a thriving Christian community.       

Cause us to want to know You more...love You better and as a result, love others better, too.

Fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit, Lord.

Amen. 

A great heart response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlxtO8xajzs&list=RDLlxtO8xajzs&start_radio=1

With devotion,

Christine

1 - Acts 28.30-31

2 - Acts 1.8

3 - Acts 2.1-13

4 - Acts 2. 14-41

5 - Acts 12.1-2

6 - Constantine R. Campbell and Jonathan T. Pennington, Reading the New Testament as Christian Scripture: A Literary, Canonical, and Theological Survey, Reading Christian Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2020), 175

7 - Craig S. Keener, “Rome: To the Empire & beyond: For the Gospel Mission, the Book of Acts Is Just the Beginning (Acts 28:11–31),” in Journeys of the Apostle Paul, ed. David Bomar (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019), 150.

8 - J. Carl Laney, “Paul’s Travels After Acts (Rom 15:24; Phil 1:25; 2:24; Phlm 22; 1 Tim 1:3; 3:14; 2 Tim 1:16–17; 4:6–8,13,20; Titus 1:5; 3:12),” in Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation, ed. Barry J. Beitzel, Jessica Parks, and Doug Mangum, Lexham Geographic Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019), 455.