Acts Chapter 28.

Acts Chapter 28.

They remain for the winter at Melita (Malta).         28:1-10.

And so to Rome.                                                      28:11-15.

At Rome.                                                                   28:16-31.

           

Paul arrived in Rome about February 60.AD.  He received a cheering welcome.  The Christians from Rome came to meet Paul, some at Appius (40 miles) and others to Three Taverns (30 miles) from Rome.  There had been much to discourage Paul.  The journey had been an ordeal for an old man.  Then, on arriving in Italy, he would hear the change for the worse in Nero's character.  But the coming of these brethren gave much courage.  Many at Rome had a fervent love for him.  The Christian movement and the Christian spirit was already established in that great city.

           

At Rome Paul called the leaders among the Jews.  He was in chains for the hope of Israel.  This spelt dismay to the Jewish concept of that hope, but to Paul it was something other than a political hope.  On an appointed day Paul preached to them the Kingdom of God and the things concerning Jesus.  These two themes are bound together.  This affirms the soteriological character of the Kingdom.   The things concerning the Kingdom and Jesus were the things Moses wrote about and about which the prophets also wrote. 

           

This hope of Israel was rejected by the Jews, but received by the Gentiles.  Retributary hardness had come upon Israel as was foretold by the prophet Isaiah (chap.6).  Isaiah announced their inability to receive the Gospel as their just retribution.

           

The climax.  28:28.   This seems an announcement on Paul's part, to deliberately take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

            The Salvation of God.   The word salvation here is 'soterion', used 4 times in the New Testament.  The usual word is 'soteria'.  The phrase "the salvation of God" is from the LXX of Isa.40:5.  (B_D. 1258).  Almost certainly, this refers to the Messianic prophecy of the Old Testament.  The words of Isaiah are, "all flesh shall see the salvation ('soterion') of God.

           

The book of Acts almost begins with the words of Joel, that God's Spirit will be poured out upon "all flesh", and it closes with an allusion to the Isaianic prophecy that, "all flesh" shall see the salvation of God."

           

So Luke, in his two volumes, sets forth the unity of the history of salvation.  He makes known the different stages of its fulfillment.  This salvation has been sent to "all flesh."  The Old Testament Scriptures had assigned this role to the Messiah.  He must bring salvation to the Gentiles.

           

Luke took up the theme of the history of salvation, beginning with the Advent of the Saviour and, in his second volume, tells how the gulf was bridged between Jew and Gentile.  The saving work of Christ has become a matter of testimony to all flesh.  This witness to the nations has gone forth through the will of God.  It was the Lord's charge to his disciples.  He commanded that it should be done and the Holy Spirit has directed every development.

           

Jerusalem because of her unique place in the history of salvation, had a central role.  But the city's complete rejection of God's chosen witness to the nations denies to itself any further role in the history of salvation - until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

           

The Gospel had already reached Rome and, with the arrival of Paul, an apostolic witness had reached there.  This seems to presume that at this time Peter had not yet arrived there.  God's chosen witness had arrived at the centre and hub of the nations.  Rome shall become the centre from which the Gospel shall go out to the provinces, throughout the empire, and to the ends of the earth.

           

Paul's Trial.   Did such a trial take place?  Possibly not.  He may have been released because no witnesses arrived from Jerusalem.  It is unlikely that such witnesses would be prepared to come all the way from Jerusalem to Rome to accuse a Roman citizen in the Roman capital.

           

His Literary Activity:   Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians, are known as the 'Prison Epistles.'  They were probably written during the Roman imprisonment, see B-D. 948 (3).

           

Future Activities:   We cannot be sure that Paul visited Spain as he hoped. (Rom.15:28).   The Pastoral epistles, 1.Timothy, Titus and 2.Timothy, testify to his later activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.

           

The End of Acts:   Since Luke's purpose for writing was the theological rather than biolgraphical, he closed his book when he had achieved his theological aim.  He intentionally finished his story where he did.  The writing of a third volume is unlikely to have furthered his theological aim.  It was his understanding of the Gospel as the salvation of God for all that had all along determined and governed his writing.  His purpose has been achieved.  "The chosen witness" for the Messiah, spurned by the leaders at Jerusalem, is now at Rome, the city of the nations.  The Church has become truly Catholic.

           

References to B-D.

            Melita.              B-D.  807.                     28:1.

            Publius.                        B-D. 1065.                    28:8.

            Twin Brothers.   B-D.  1302, (201).          28:11.

            Syracuse.         B-D.  1229.                   28:12.

            Rheguim.          B-D.  1096.                   28:13.

            Puteoli.             B-D.  1066.

            Appii Forum.     B-D.      50.                   28:15.

            Three Taverns.   B-D.   1241.

            The Kingdom of :

                   *  God.      B-D.    693.                   28:23.

                   *  Messiah. B-D.    811.