Faithful on Fridays Blog

We saw last week that Paul’s final destination was Rome since he appealed his case to Caesar Nero; it really wasn’t his idea, it was God’s Plan. It seems that preaching the gospel in the most prominent city of the world, Rome, was Paul’s final mission. 

Rome was a wealthy and extravagant hub that was filled with art, silver and gold treasures, famous writers and architects as well as the poor and those on government welfare. Nero was already preparing his famous Circus Maximus and Colosseum to not only provide public entertainment with gladiators and other showmen but for the persecution of Christians in just a few years.

We find Paul (Acts 27-28) on his journey by water to this formidable city with opportunities to show God’s power through the gifts of the Spirit as he prophesied of physical injury during a storm and final loss of the ship. An angel visited Paul in 27:22-24 and confirmed yet again Jesus’ own prophecy of his voyage to Rome. Paul alerted everyone and gave them courage that there would be no deaths and his faith in God will prove his words to be true. 

Sometimes evidence is what it takes for others to believe God’s power and our New Testament faith reflects that assurance that when God says it you can take it to the bank.

When the ship arrived on an island Paul had even more opportunities to show God’s power through divine healing of himself and others (vs. 4-8) before he arrived at Rome. Paul shows us how vital it is for us to be ready to share our faith whether in season, so to speak, or out. When we least expect it God will privilege us to share some aspect of our faith with someone who needs it; we simply need to be ready.

When he finally arrived in Rome his imprisonment continued for several years and Paul took every opportunity to write, preach, and teach those who came to hear him. We know he wrote four prison epistles, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon while incarcerated but he also had limited freedom to preach to great numbers of Jews and Gentiles alike. 

Paul boldly and openly focused on the Kingdom of God that was inaugurated with Jesus’ resurrection and proved His Kingship by testifying and teaching from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Many Jewish people responded to his teaching and many Gentiles responded to the evidence Paul gave of Jesus’ claims: undoubtedly His healings, deliverance from demons, and many miracles.

The Book of Acts began with God pouring out His Spirit on 120 people in an upper room and Paul’s writings teach us that He’s still doing it today for those who are open and willing. We can expect evidence of His power, as Paul did, as the Spirit gifts individuals at His discretion (1 Cor. 12:11): Our mission is to be ready and willing to be His representative on the earth.