Rome at Last!

Acts 28:11-31
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, November 19, 2000
Copyright © 2000, P. G. Mathew

After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar–not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”

They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

“`Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” (After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.)

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 28:11-31

In Acts 19:21 we read of Paul’s desire to go to Rome, and in Acts 23:11 the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the apostle Paul and told him, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so must also testify in Rome.” Paul had been planning to go to Rome now for three years. In this study we want to examine the last chapter of the book of Acts, especially from verse 11 to the end, and see how Paul made his way finally to Rome and what he did when he arrived there.

Paul’s Great Desire

The first point we want to look at Paul’s desire to go to Rome. It was his great desire to preach the gospel in Rome, which was the largest and most splendid of all the cities of the ancient Roman empire.

The city of Rome attracted a vast number of people from all over the world like a magnet. It was the capital of the great Roman empire which was known for its respect for law, efficient administration, good postal communication, and safe travel, thanks to the straight roads and safe ports maintained by Rome.

The city of Rome was known for its many magnificent buildings and was considered to be a great city. Yet, at the same time, according to Seneca, Rome was also a cesspool of iniquity, and the Roman writer Juvenal compared Rome to a filthy sewer. Three years before his arrival there, Paul himself wrote in Romans 1 of the wickedness of Rome, although his words are true of all cities everywhere.

It was God’s plan that Paul preach the light of the gospel in this dark world, which included Rome. That is the theme of the book of Acts, as Jesus told his disciples in Acts 1:8, saying, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When we study the book of Acts, we read in chapters 1 through 7 about the evangelization of Jerusalem; in chapters 8 through 12 we read about the evangelization of Judea and Samaria; and in chapter 13 through the end of the book, we read about the evangelization of the uttermost parts of the earth, including, finally, Rome.

Paul’s strategy of spreading the gospel was always to center his ministry in a major metropolitan area, from which the gospel could spread to the surrounding rural areas. That is why Paul had such a great desire to minister in Rome. He knew that from this grandest of all cities, people could take the light of the gospel to anywhere in the Roman empire.

Paul’s Plan, God’s Plan

This great desire of Paul to go to Rome is revealed in several places in the Scriptures. In Romans 1:11 Paul wrote, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. . . .” In verse 13 he said, “I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you, (but have been prevented from doing so until now).”

In Romans 15:23-24 Paul wrote, “But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a time.” In Romans 15:29 he said, “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ,” and in verse 31 he wrote, “Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there so that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.”

We find Paul’s desire to go to Rome also revealed in Acts 19:21: “After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. ‘After I have been there,’ he said, ‘I must visit Rome also.'” Paul uses the word dei, “must,” which speaks about divine ordination. Here we find that it was not only Paul’s desire to go to Rome, but that he was beginning to sense that it was the will of God that he should go to Rome to preach the gospel.

We find further evidence that was the plan of God himself that Paul go to Rome in Acts 23:11, where we read the message of comfort God gave to Paul in prison in Jerusalem: “The following night the Lord stood near and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must also testify in Rome.'” Not only did Paul desire to go to Rome, but here God revealed to Paul that that was God’s own plan for him to go.

God spoke to Paul again on this matter in Acts 27:24. In the middle of a shipwreck, God sent an angel to comfort and encourage his apostle, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar.'” Now Paul knew that not only would he go to Rome and minister there, but that some of that ministry would be to Caesar himself.

So Paul used the words, “I long,” “I planned many times,” and “I hope to come to you” in expressing his desire to see the Romans, and then he requested that they pray this will happen. Paul’s desire was fulfilled in a way he did not envision. I am sure he had planned to go to Rome as a free person, as he had gone to Corinth, Cyprus, Ephesus, and other cities. Yet that did not happen.

Paul suffered serious opposition to his desire to go to Rome. All this happened after all the sufferings he listed in 2 Corinthians 4, 6, and 11. He was arrested in Jerusalem, beaten up, mocked, chained, tried before the Sanhedrin, and tried before the Roman governors-this great ambassador of Christ, who languished in chains for two years in a cell in Caesarea before he could come to trial.. Then, as we read in Acts 27, he was shipwrecked, cold, and hungry. The Roman guards attempted to kill him, but God caused Julius the centurion to intervene and save him from death. When he landed at Malta, a viper bit him, and God again miraculously saved his life.

Things did not go well with Paul. But God’s servants are indestructible and invincible until their work on earth is done, and that was certainly true of Paul. It was God’s plan that Paul go to Rome to preach the kingdom of God in Rome there. In the world’s most prestigious city, in the most prestigious court of the world’s most prestigious person, Caesar, this most brilliant apostle was to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord of all. That was Paul’s great desire.

The Purpose of God for Paul

Not only was it Paul’s great desire to go to Rome, but it was also God’s purpose. Let me assure you, if something is God’s purpose, God’s decree, God’s will, that thing will come to pass.

I have heard people say to me, “I had a vision to marry So-and-so. It never happened, but I am sure it was God’s will. ” Why don’t you acknowledge that that vision was from Satan and had nothing to do with Jesus Christ? But we don’t want to acknowledge such facts because then we have to say, “Well, I had a message from Satan and I believed it.” But if God ordains something to happen, it will happen, irrespective of all opposition.

This purpose of God that his most brilliant apostle proclaim the gospel in Rome could not be thwarted. It was part of God’s greater plan that before the second coming of the Lord the gospel must be preached throughout the whole world, as Jesus declared in Matthew 24:14. No Sanhedrin, no storm, no snake, no persecution of any empire, no devil can prevent the spread of the gospel. Didn’t Jesus Christ tell his disciples, ” Go and make disciples of all nations”? Didn’t Jesus Christ say, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”? Didn’t he say, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”? This same Jesus Christ will work all things together for the good of us as he fulfills his purpose for this world of men.

It was God’s purpose to provide for the children of Jacob in the land of Egypt at a time of great famine. Remember that story? He accomplished his purpose by bringing Joseph to Egypt and promoting him until he became the brilliant prime minister of Egypt. Yet how did God bring Joseph to his high political position? First, he had Joseph thrown into a pit by his own brothers. Then he had Joseph sold as a slave and sold again for a profit to Potiphar, the Egyptian. Then Joseph was thrown as a criminal into a prison where he was forgotten for many years by Pharaoh’s cupbearer, whom Joseph helped. Yet God was with Joseph, and at the right time God exalted him to be the savior of the Egyptians as well as of his Israelite brethren. And in Genesis 50 we hear from the mouth of Joseph this amazing understanding that in all things God works together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose. In verse 19 Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Thus, not only was it Paul’s desire to go to Rome, but it was also God’s purpose. Through Paul’s desire to witness in Rome, God’s purpose of global witness and evangelization of the gospel was being accomplished.

Paul Travels to Rome

Through a shipwreck, Paul came to Malta. In Acts 27 we read that as the ship Paul was on left Crete, it was caught in a fierce storm and eventually had run aground far off its desired course. Paul and his companions discovered they had landed on Malta, an island eighteen miles long and eight miles wide, fifty-eight miles south of Sicily. Malta had been colonized by the Phoenicians in 1000 B.C. and was now under Roman control.

Why did God bring Paul to Malta? Because God loved the Maltese people. Malta was out of the way for Paul on his journey to Rome. It was the uttermost parts of the earth, as far as Paul was concerned. But God knew that the Maltese people needed to hear the gospel, and so he brought Paul to preach to them.

At that time many people on the island were suffering from fever and dysentery, caused by a microorganism identified in 1887 as micrococcos melatensis. This disease was spread through the milk of the goats grazing on the island. Even the father of the governor Publius was suffering from this terrible disease, which could last from four months to two years.

But see how God ordains things! Publius, the Roman governor, received the shipwrecked people and gave them food and shelter for three days. During this time Paul learned that Publius’ father was suffering from this disease. When Paul prayed for the father and laid hands on him, he was healed. Luke tells us this matter became known throughout the island, and all those suffering from this disease came to Paul and were also healed.

Paul spent three months wintering in Malta, during which time he ministered to many poor people of Malta. Around February 15, Paul and the others put out to sea in another Alexandrian grain ship, and soon they arrived at Puteoli on the Italian mainland.

Puteoli was the principal port of Rome to which grain from Alexandria was regularly shipped. Modern Puteoli is a resort city on the Bay of Naples. There had been a Jewish community there since 4 B.C., and now there was also a Christian community. So when Paul arrived, as his custom was, he, together probably with Luke and Aristarchus, went about looking for Christians, as his custom was. The Christians who came invited Paul and his companions to stay with them and so, probably with the permission of Julius the centurion, they stayed with these Christians for seven days.

Rome at Last!

When the news from Puteoli reached the church of Rome that Paul, the great apostle, had arrived, the Roman church sent two delegations to greet Paul and welcome him to Rome. In Acts 28:15 we read, “The brothers,” meaning the brothers from Rome, “had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as Forum of Appius,” forty-three miles south of Rome, “and the Three Taverns,” thirty-three miles south of Rome, “to meet us.” Two delegations had been sent to greet Paul. “At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and took courage.”

Finally, the desire of Paul to go to Rome was fulfilled, and finally, the purpose of God was fulfilled for Paul to have fellowship with the believers of the Roman church. This church had probably been established years earlier by visitors from Rome who had been converted while they were at the temple on the day of Pentecost, as we read in Acts 2.

What was Paul’s reaction when he saw these fellow Christians? He thanked God and took courage, knowing that his prayers had been finally answered. Surely the Lord was with him! What God had promised to Paul in Acts 23:11 and what he had promised through the angel in Acts 27:24 was now being fulfilled.

Let me tell you, God is faithful. The Bible says, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” We believe human testimony every day; how tragic it is that we do not believe in the very word of God! But God is faithful and must be trusted. So I am sure that Paul rejoiced in the Lord at God’s faithfulness, and I also believe he probably broke out speaking in other tongues, strengthening himself in his inner man!

Yes, Paul’s desire to go to Rome had been fulfilled. But not only had it been his desire to go, it was also God’s purpose. We can desire anything we want, but if it is not God’s purpose, it will not happen. Paul’s desire was also the desire of the heart of God. That is the way we ought to live. Desire the desire of God; purpose the purpose of God; plan the plan of God, and then everything will be all right.

First to the Jews

When Paul reached Rome, he was given freedom to live in his own rented house. Of course, he was always under the surveillance of a guard, who was chained to his right wrist. Yet no restriction was placed upon him in terms of preaching the gospel, so he began to preach.

Paul’s first order of business upon arrival in Rome was to invite Jewish leaders from various synagogues in the city to visit him. We are told that several years earlier Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jewish people from Rome because there had been quite a bit of trouble in the Jewish community in reference to a man named Chrestos, or Christ. We may suppose, therefore, that there were a number of Jewish people in Rome, therefore, who believed in Jesus Christ, but there were still many others who did not. This expulsion took place around 49-50 A.D.

Many Jews had to leave. We find mention of this in Acts 18:1-2, “After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.” But it appears that after the death of Claudius in 54 A.D., the Jewish people were allowed to return to Rome, and so they were there now. They lived in various sections of the city of Rome, establishing synagogues with names such as “Synagogue of Campensis,” “Synagogue of Augustensis,” “Synagogue of Agrippensis,” “Synagogue of Subarensis,” “Synagogue of the Hebrews,” “Synagogue of the Olive Tree.” Since Paul could not travel, he probably sent Aristarchus or Luke to these synagogues and invited the leaders to come to him so that he could explain to them what had happened in Jerusalem.

When the Jewish leaders came for their first interview with Paul, he told them first that he had done nothing against the law of Moses or the Jewish customs. Second, he said, the Roman officials themselves were ready to release him because he had not done anything against Roman custom either. Third, he said, when the Jews of Jerusalem objected to his release, he appealed to Caesar. Fourth, Paul pointed out that he did not counter-sue by bringing a suit against his own people, the Jews.

Finally, he told them, “Let me tell you why I am in these chains: it is because of the hope of Israel.” What did Paul mean by the phrase “the hope of Israel”? It is interpreted throughout the book of Acts as meaning the coming kingdom of God, which was promised throughout the Old Testament. A Messiah was going to come and establish the kingdom of God for the benefit and salvation of the Jewish people. (PGM) I am sure Paul told these leaders that this promise was fulfilled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Messiah who died, but was raised from the dead. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and everyone who repents and believes on him will be saved.

When this interview was over, a second interview was arranged, and this time an even larger delegation of Jews came to hear Paul. This was Paul’s custom, to speak to the Jews first wherever he went, and then to the Gentiles. Earlier in the book of Acts we read that whenever Paul entered a city, whether Corinth or or Ephesus or Pisidian Antioch or any other city, he would first go into a synagogue to speak the gospel to the Jewish people. The pattern was the same: He would speak, the majority of them would reject it, and then Paul would go to the Gentiles.

So when he arrived in Rome, Paul preached first to the Jewish people. But after the second interview, the majority of the Jews refused to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was their Messiah. I want to interject here that it is not only Jewish people of the past who reject this Messiah, but the vast majority of people in every age refuse to believe in Christ.

The Jews’ rejection of the gospel was in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah, Paul said. When people reject the gospel, we must realize that judgment is pronounced in the Scriptures upon certain people who do not believe. So Paul told them, “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet, ‘Go and tell this people: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them'” (Acts 28:25-27).

Paul’s heart was grieved concerning his own people, as we read in Romans 9, 10, and 11. He wrote this portion of his letter to the Romans to deal with this very problem of the Jews’ rejection of their Messiah. Yet in Romans 11:26 Paul writes, “And so all Israel will be saved,” meaning all who are chosen by God to be saved will be saved by God’s irresistible grace.

This is why I do not get anxious when people don’t believe in Jesus Christ. We are told by the apostle John in John 1:11, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” The Lord Jesus Christ himself said, “They hate the light and they love darkness.” This is the rottenness and wickedness of the human heart. These Jewish people, and most people today, wanted to be saved by their own self-righteousness and law-keeping than by admitting their sin and trusting in Jesus Christ. Rejecting the doctrine of grace, that Jesus Christ died for their sins and was raised for their justification, they preferred to earn their salvation and not receive it as a gift from God. The Bible clearly tells us we cannot be saved by any works we do. But all whom God ordains to salvation, whether Jew or Gentile, will confess their sins, trust in Christ, and be saved.

Then to the Gentiles

As we said, after Paul spoke to the Jewish people, the vast majority of them rejected the gospel, so he turned to the Gentiles. This is what happened in Pisidian Antioch, as we read in Acts 13. After preaching the gospel to the Jews, Paul and Barnabas told them, “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth'” (Acts 13:46-47). And in verse 48 we read, “When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”

This also happened in Corinth, as we read in Acts 18:6, “But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'” It happened again in Ephesus, as we read in Acts 19:8-9, “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.”

Now we see the same thing happening in Rome. After Paul’s first interview with the Jewish leaders, he had a second interview with a larger delegation of Jewish people from various synagogues. They came to his place and he spoke to them for about twelve hours, from morning to evening. I am sure there was much serious debate, discussion, and asking and answering questions. I am sure a number of rabbis were there, and Paul explained to them that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, and the King, including the king of the Jews. But when he finished speaking, these Jewish leaders rejected Paul and his message.

What was Paul’s response? As we said, he quoted Isaiah 6:9-10, and then said, “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” In other words, Paul was saying, “The gift of the gospel has arrived here, but you did not receive it! I will take it to others, who will believe and be saved!”

I am sure this happens wherever the gospel is preached. The gift arrives, but people refuse to receive it. They may be sitting in the church, confronted by this gift through the preaching of the gospel, but they don’t open it or even look at it. This greatest gift is neglected often because people are so busy, self-sufficient, and self-righteous. They think they do not need Jesus Christ or his kingdom or his righteousness or his eternal life. They do not like the principle of salvation by grace.

So Paul told his audience that God’s salvation had been sent to the Gentiles and they would listen. This is the mystery of the gospel. Some will not hear, but others, who are ordained to eternal life, will listen and put their trust in Jesus Christ.

These Jews rejected Jesus Christ. In Acts 5:31 we read that Jesus Christ is called the Savior, the one whom God exalted “that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.” In Acts 4:12 we are told that salvation is found in no one but Jesus Christ. Yet these Jews were looking, as the vast majority of people both then and now are looking, for salvation everywhere except in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. These people were looking for a king, yet when Jesus Christ was asked, “Are you the king of Israel?” and he told them he was, do you think they believed him? No. But the truth is, Jesus Christ is the King and Savior of Israel. He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”; and he is the kingdom of God. Remember how he introduced his great commission, saying, “I have received all authority in heaven and on earth”? But his own people did not believe him.

Paul’s Ministry in Rome

In Acts 28:28-30 we read that Paul ministered for two years in Rome. He had ministered in both Corinth and Ephesus for several years, and now God allowed Paul to minister for two years in Rome. He ministered in a rented house, which was turned into a gospel hall through Paul’s ministry.

I do not know how Paul was supported during this time. Some people say he started making tents again, but we doubt that. I believe Luke and Aristarchus, who, it seems, were with him almost all of these two years probably helped, and it appears that churches, such as the church of Philippi, sent money to help pay for this house.

Additionally, Paul had friends in Rome, which we learn from his epistles. We read about Luke and Aristarchus, as well as Epaphras, Demas, John Mark, and Onesiphorus, who had a hard time finding Paul in Rome, but who did find him and visited him often (2 Timothy 1:16-17). Also, during the two years Paul was in Rome, he was always bound on his right wrist to a guard. I have a suspicion that this guard also came to know the Lord as he spent time listening to Paul and probably gave the apostle some help with his ministry. Can you imagine the privilege of being linked to the great, brilliant apostle of the Gentiles?

Paul’s Message to the Romans

We are told that Paul preached to all who came to him, and the impression we get is that most of those who came were Gentiles. What did he preach? Verse 31 tells us he “preached about the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” This was nothing new for Paul. This is what he always preached.

I know of many preachers today who started out preaching the gospel but eventually have changed their message. They have become very smart and very wise, so they preach many things other than Jesus Christ. In fact, I was listening to such a minister on television the other day. This man did not say even one word about Jesus Christ. He spoke only about money, saying that someone had given him some money, and that was the way to go. Many television evangelists are the same. They have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. They will speak about politics, economics, philosophy, political theory, and sometimes marriage and family, but they have forsaken the heart of the gospel.

But that was not so in the case of this brilliant apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul always preached Jesus Christ and his kingdom. In Acts 1:3 we read, “After his suffering, the Lord Jesus Christ showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God,” meaning the rule of God, the authority of God, the power of God. The greatest reality in the world is the kingdom of God. It is centered in Jesus Christ his Son, who was crucified in our place and raised according to the Scriptures on the third day, that everyone who believes in him may be saved. This is what Jesus Christ preached, and this is what Paul preached.

This is what the other apostles preached as well. In Acts 8:12 we read about Philip the Evangelist. What did he preach? “But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Notice, the kingdom of God is linked to the very person and work of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 28:23 we find what Paul preached in Rome: “[The Jews] arranged to meet Paul on a certain day and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” The kingdom of God is Jesus Christ. He is the king of his kingdom. He rules and reigns, and that is what Paul preached.

In the last verse of the last chapter of the book of Acts, we read, “Boldly and without hindrance [Paul] preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” In Rome people were supposed to say, “Caesar is Lord,” but here, in the center of the city, was someone who, without fear and with confidence, was declaring that there is a Lord who is lord of all-the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazingly, the leaders of Rome understood what Paul was preaching, yet no one restrained him.

So there was no evolution in Paul’s message. It was the same message as that of Jesus Christ, and it is the same message we preach today. I have been tempted many times to change the message, but I will not change it.

A Bold, Confident Witness

How did Paul minister? First, we are told “with all boldness.” The Greek word is parrêsia. Where did this boldness come from? The Holy Spirit. As Jesus told his disciples in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. . . .” Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and therefore he spoke with parrêsia, with boldness. And this boldness included speaking in a clear, candid way, meaning there was no effort to conceal the truth or use obscure expressions. Paul was interested in clearly communicating the truth of the gospel.

Not only that, Paul’s proclamation was confident, meaning he had no fear of consequences. In fact, the Greek word marturêô, “to witness,” comes from the same word from which we get the word martyr. A witness is interested in expressing the truth, no matter what the cost. I was recently in Prague, where I saw a statue of Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake by the church in 1415 for preaching the truth. His good friend Jerome of Prague was also burned for preaching the truth. Like the Apostle Paul, these men were people with parrêsia, with holy boldness, who declared the gospel candidly, clearly, and confidently, irrespective of consequences.

Then we are told Paul preached “without hindrance.” Amazingly, Rome put no restriction on Paul’s preaching at this time. I am sure the authorities knew what he was preaching, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Such speech was considered dynamite in those days when Caesar said that he was lord. But Caesar could do nothing to stop Paul, because it was the will of the King of kings that Paul be in Rome and preach for two years with boldness the kingdom of God.

Here we see the triumph of the kingdom of God and the word of God. We read about this throughout the book of Acts. For example, in Acts 4:18 we read that the Sanhedrin met with the apostles and told them, “Don’t you speak or teach in the name of Jesus anymore.” The disciples went home, prayed, and started preaching again with boldness in the Name. The Sanhedrin called them in again and said, “Didn’t we tell you that you shouldn’t preach about Jesus?” They said, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29).

If we are given the gospel to preach, we must not close our mouths. Oh, all sorts of people may tell you to keep your mouth shut, and you may encounter serious opposition to your preaching of the gospel. But we must always affirm, “We must obey God rather than men!”

The Result of Gospel Preaching

Why should we always preach the gospel? To spread the word of God, that men may be saved and brought into God’s kingdom. So in Acts 6:7 we read, “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” In Acts 12:24 we read, “But the word of God continued to increase and spread.” In Acts 13:49 we read, “The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.” And in Acts 19:20 we read, “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” All these verses tell us one thing: In spite of all the problems and opposition to the gospel, the word of God continued to grow and multiply and do what God intended for it to do.

In the same way, Paul’s hands were bound in Rome, but his mouth was open. Yes, he was chained, and yet he tells us in 2 Timothy 2:9, “The word of God is not chained.” We have no doubt that many were saved as a result of Paul’s ministry in Rome. I pray that we will emulate Paul. I pray that we will not be ashamed of the greatest news in the entire universe, that God saves sinners and grants them the gift of eternal life, that we may boldly witness as Paul did.

How did Paul end? We are not told in Acts, but it seems he was released after two years, around 63 A.D. Based on his pastoral epistles, we can surmise that Paul traveled to certain places like Greece, Crete, and Asia Minor. One tradition tells us he even went to Spain. Then Paul came back to Rome before it was burned in the fire set by Nero. He was rearrested and retried, as we read in 2 Timothy 4, where Paul speaks of his own death, knowing that no one can kill a Christian until his work is done. And according to tradition, when Paul’s work on earth ended, he was brought outside Rome and beheaded. But the word of God is not bound, and the kingdom of God has been moving on in power ever since.

What About You?

Have you heard the gospel that Paul proclaimed? If not, I urge you to read the letter he wrote to the Roman church, called the Epistle to the Romans. There Paul tells us that we are sinners under the wrath of God; that God sent his own Son Jesus Christ to make atonement for our sins; and that he saves everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord. That is the gospel. It is God’s word, and we must believe it.

You know, we believe the testimonies of many people, do we not? I recently stopped watching television. I am weaned of news, even though I know that, as a preacher, I must know what is going on. But I think we let all these testimonies of men come into our ears, our hearts, and our minds while we neglect the study of God and his word. It is time that we paid attention to the testimony of God, to the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So I must ask you: Have you heard the gospel? Have you heard it with your heart, with your inner heart, with your spiritual ears? Have you seen it with your spiritual eyes? Has God granted you faith to trust in Jesus Christ alone? And, having heard, have you turned from your sin and wickedness to this Savior who died for your sins?

If you have done these things, you will be filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. That is what happens, as we read in Acts 13:52, “The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Let me assure you, if you have seen and heard it, if you have turned from wickedness and turned to this Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, if he has saved you and filled your heart with joy and the Holy Spirit, you will thank and praise God. And if you have been saved by the good news of the gospel, you will proclaim it to everyone around you with all boldness till you die. We know that the word of God is always effectual; God tells us his word shall never return to him void. Every time the word is preached, some are raised up to life, while others are condemned to death. Never think that our speaking the gospel is ineffectual. It is effectual every time. It either grants life or seals people in their death and destruction.

May God help us not to change the message of the gospel! May we be filled with the Holy Spirit and thankfulness for the great salvation he has given us. May we enjoy it and declare to others that Jesus saves sinners. May we realize that the greatest reality is not America or any other country or power, but the kingdom of God. Kingdoms come and kingdoms go, yet the kingdom of God endures forever. Of the increase of his government there shall be no end. May God help us, therefore, to trust in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved. Amen.