The Acts of the Apostles

[Resource Manager]

The topic of this second letter was one that was close to the apostle’s heart. Long ago, when he first began his preaching work, he and the other apostles at Jerusalem had come to an agreement that he would go to the Gentiles, and they would continue preaching to the Jews. But he had promised them he would remember the poverty of the Jewish Christians, and seek to relieve it. He had already taken one public collection from Antioch to Jerusalem. Now he wanted to see the Gentile believers from Greece and Corinth pulling their weight in contributing to the needs of their Jewish brethren. It was a lovely idea, expressing the unity that belongs to true Christianity, bridging barriers of race and prejudice, and uniting together disciples across the seas. He wanted the Corinthians to have the money put by in good time, so that there would be no scurrying around when he arrived. He takes two whole chapters, 2 Corinthians 8; 9, to explain the principles of Christian giving. Discipleship is not just a matter of believing. Salvation is certainly by faith, not works, but God expects our faith to move us to acts of sacrifice. “As you excel in everything” Paul wrote “in faith, in utterance, in knowledge … see that you excel in this gracious work also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). In the most delightful way, Paul explains that it is a case of sharing. “Your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality” (2 Corinthians 8:14). If we give generously when others are in need, God will see to it that help is there when we are in trouble ourselves. And we must always remember, he adds, that when we give to others, we give what God first gave to us. He is able to replace what we give with much more. “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your resources, and increase the harvest of your righteousness … thanks be to God” he concludes “for His inexpressible gift” The gift of His Son, with all that cost, is more than we can ever repay.

 

All ended well. The Corinthians paid their contributions. Paul added the money to that he had already gathered in Greece, and accompanied by a few trusted brethren, set sail for Jerusalem. Before setting off, he penned the Epistle to the Romans. New plans were already forming in his mind. “I no longer have room for work in these regions” he told them “I have longed for many years to come to you; I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain” (Romans 15:23). Rome was Paul’s next objective, as the white sails drew him speedily to the Holy Land.

[Resource Manager]

(10) Trouble at Jerusalem

 

As the great ship ploughed east across the Mediterranean bearing Paul and his companions towards the land of Israel, a troubled look would occasionally cross his weather-beaten face. It was not the safe keeping of the bullion they were carrying that worried the apostle, although the total value of the Great Collection for the poor disciples in Jerusalem probably amounted to thousands of pounds. It was something else. He had already expressed his fears in his letters to the Romans some months before, as he outlined to them his plans for the journey. “Strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” he had begged them “that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints” (Romans16:30-31)

 

The first point was an obvious one. Several years had elapsed since he last visited the Jewish capital, and his work of preaching to the Gentiles had made him many enemies amongst the orthodox Jews. He was showing great courage in going to Jerusalem at all, equivalent to walking into the lion’s den. However, the collection of money from the Gentile believers for the Jewish Christians had been his own idea, and he felt obliged to see the project through to the end, whatever the dangers. His prayer that the collection would be accepted by the people for whom it was intended, shows that he was suffering another anxiety. It would prove embarrassing and hurtful indeed if Jewish pride was to reject the kindness shown at such self-sacrifice by the Gentiles, and he was made, crestfallen, to take the collection back.

 

In the event his fears were justified. Landing at Caesarea, Paul travelled on foot from the coast up to the capital, accompanied by his friends. It had been arranged that he would stay with a disciple from Cyprus who was living in Jerusalem. Next day a meeting was called of the Jerusalem church, or ecclesia, and Paul presented a detailed report on his work overseas – “he related one by one” writes Luke “the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry” (Acts 21:18-19).

 

At this point we would expect to read about the handing over of the collection, and the gratitude of the people receiving it. Unfortunately the record is silent. It looks as though Paul’s alms giving, undertaken in such a loving spirit, was received with little enthusiasm. Worse was to follow. After making his report, he was forced to take an important decision, the results of which were to change the course of his life for years to come.

 

The fact was Paul was an embarrassment to the Jerusalem believers. They respected the dramatic results of his preaching – “when they heard it, they glorified God” Luke records (Luke 21:20). But Paul himself had acquired a reputation for teaching not only the Gentiles, but the Jews as well, in the countries he had visited, that it was no longer necessary to keep the Law of Moses. This upset the Jewish Christians living in Jerusalem. They had to rub shoulders every day with the unbelieving Jews, who viewed them as heretics, in the same way that Paul himself had done when he used to be Saul the Persecutor. Most of them had decided to reduce this friction by continuing to observe the Law of Moses themselves, as well as following Christ. After all, they could argue, there was nothing wrong with the Law of Moses. If you accepted it could not bring salvation, observing the Sabbath and praying in the Temple did no harm, and certainly made life easier. So they said to Paul ‘we want you to go along to the Temple straightaway and take part in a public service of purification, so that everyone will realise you are still a supporter of the Law’.

[Resource Manager]

This put Paul in a difficult position. The fact was he, like them, had continued to observe the rules of the Law of Moses after his conversion. His reason was different. It was not to avoid persecution – he collected plenty of that from the unbelieving Jews. It was to give him the facility of entering the synagogues in the cities he visited overseas, in order to preach the gospel to the Jews. If he had stopped observing the Law, they would have refused to listen to him, and he would not have been able to follow the principle he insisted was God’s way – “the gospel is the power of God for salvation to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). His observance of the Law was not out of compulsion, but as a means to an end. “To those under the Law” he wrote “I became as one under the Law – though not being myself under the Law – “that I might win those under the Law” (1 Corinthians 9:20)

So, to go into the Temple as if he were a law-abiding Jew would draw the teeth from his Jewish critics, but it would weaken the emphasis of his gospel, that salvation is by faith in Jesus. It was a nasty dilemma. He slept on it.

 

By morning light, Paul had decided to humour his Jewish brethren. With four other men, he purified himself, set off for the Temple and gave notice that in a week’s time he would be returning to offer sacrifices. He then had to wait around in Jerusalem until the seven days had elapsed. That delay proved fatal. Amongst the crowds of worshippers, thronging the Temple like flocks of saintly birds, were visitors from overseas, including Jews from the province of Asia. They recognised the diminutive figure of the apostle, and the sight of his face brought back unpleasant memories of wordy battles in their home towns, when he had drawn away many of their members from the synagogue to be followers of Jesus. This was an opportunity for revenge. The unsuspecting apostle, quietly worshipping, was seizes by rough hands. “Men of Israel, help” they cried “This is the man who is teaching men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place…” (Acts 21:28). Their shrieks of rage warned Paul that, not for the first time, his life was in the hands of a fanatical mob. They dragged him, bruised and defenceless, outside into the street and began to beat him to death.

 

The Romans had built a large fortress overlooking the Temple area for the very purpose of controlling such riots, which were all too common amongst their Jewish subjects in that sacred place where feelings ran high. The frenzied disturbance below was noted by the guard, and reported at once to the Chief Officer. He rushed out with a strong detachment of soldiers, and was able to intervene in time to save Paul from the mob. Assuming the battered figure before him had disturbed the peace, he formally arrested the apostle, chained him securely, and began to march him off to the barracks for interrogation.

 

The fire of Paul’s character shines out in what happened next. Addressing the tribune in Greek, he asked permission to speak to the crowds from the barrack stairs. In spite of his pain, Paul was not going to let this opportunity pass to address his fellow countrymen on the subject nearest to his heart. He had kept a low profile during the week in order to avoid trouble, but now he had been recognised, he was determined to let them know why he had become a Christian.

 

It was a strange circumstance to start preaching. Most of us would have been thankful just to escape from a violent death. But to Paul, these men who so hated him were sinners to be saved. His oration got off to a good start. It was an extraordinary spectacle, as the dishevelled little man peered down from between the burly Roman soldiers, waving his manacled hand until a deep hush fell over the crowd. They listened intently as he explained how Jesus of Nazareth had appeared to him in a blinding light on the road to Damascus. They followed his account of his baptism, and his commission to be an apostle. But when he came to Jesus’ command that he should preach to the Gentiles, the spell was broken. Howling, waving their clothes, throwing dust into the air, they so alarmed the Roman tribune that Paul was immediately rushed inside.

[Resource Manager]

That day was the beginning of a long, dark chapter in Paul’s life. He was to stay in prison, first at Jerusalem, then Caesarea and Rome, for a period that was to be measured in years. He had done nothing unlawful. He was brought before court after court, with different judges, but somehow, although they could find no good reason for his being kept in prison, they never got round to setting him free. Roman law was good, but its execution depended on officials who were more concerned with their pockets and careers than strict standards of justice. The Jews, Paul’s enemies, had influence in high places, and saw to it that Paul, if not dead, was at least silenced from his preaching.

 

Even in prison, Paul was hardly safe. While he was being kept at Jerusalem, a band of assassins planned to set up a roadside ambush while the Jewish leaders arranged for Paul to be brought out of prison to appear before the Jewish Council. Only the sharp ears of Paul’s little nephew foiled their plot. Our picture, based on Acts 23:12-22, shows the lad warning the tribune that Paul’s life was in danger. But such excitement and danger was soon to be a thing of the past, as the apostle found himself locked away for long, dreary days in damp, harsh cells. It must have been galling, frustrating and downright depressing, especially when he had done nothing wrong.

 

Why, you might well ask, did God allow his servant to finish up like this, after years of faithful service? It is a good question, and we must attempt an answer before we conclude. Firstly, we cannot hope to understand the reasons for all God’s actions until the Day of Judgement, when the full perspective of His work will be revealed. We have to recognise that we are only servants, doing our duty. It may be that Paul’s appointed task of founding new communities of believers was now complete, and it was time for others to carry on, while he took a back seat. Secondly, suffering comes to all God’s servants sooner or later. It teaches them patience, faith and trust in God. Even Jesus is said in the book of Hebrews to have been made perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10). Perhaps Paul still had something to learn from those lonely hours in prison. Lastly, there is one definite benefit from Paul’s imprisonment, for which we give thanks. Unable to visit his dear friends overseas, he wrote to them instead; long, meaty letters of counsel and warning, full of principles for the life of the disciple. Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Philemon, 2 Timothy and probably Hebrews – all these have been preserved, and I them we have the finest fruits of the apostle’s wisdom ad experience.

[Resource Manager]

(11) Paul’s Voyage to Rome

 

Paul had spent at least two years in Roman jails. He had shown, both in open court and in private conversation with his captors, that he was innocent of any crime under Roman law, but somehow nothing seemed to happen. He realised eventually there was no hope of justice at the hands of Felix, the local official who was in charge of his case. He needed to go to the top.

 

Roman law, like British law, was designed to protect the innocent. Since there was always the possibility of bias on the part of the judge hearing a case, it allowed for an appeal to a higher court. This facility was open to any Roman citizen. If he felt consistently denied a fair hearing, he had the right to go to the very highest level, and ask the Emperor himself to try his case, just like an Englishman appealing to the House of Lords today.

 

Paul’s opportunity came when Felix was replaced by a new Governor, Festus. Only three days after his taking office, the Jewish leaders petitioned him to have Paul sent back to Jerusalem to be re-tried. Not for the first time, they intended to ambush and kill Paul on the way (Acts 25:3). Festus must have realised he had inherited a ‘hot potato’ from his predecessor, and refused to fall into their trap.

 

However, when the case was eventually heard at his headquarters in Caesarea, the outcome was once again inconclusive. The Jews could not prove any crime, and Paul protested his innocence. The Governor suggested yet another trial, but Paul had already decided to use his Roman privilege – “Caesareri apello” he cried – “I appeal to Caesar”. This meant only one thing. He would get to Rome- not as he had planned two years ago, as a freelance preacher, but at least with some hope of justice, away from the steamy, violent hatred of the Jews at Jerusalem. Little did he know, but his journey to Rome at the Emperor’s expense was to prove more dangerous than any other episode in his eventful life.

 

The account of Paul’s voyage to Rome occupies a whole chapter of Acts (Acts 27), and is one of the most gripping adventure stories in the Bible. Luke, the narrator, was clearly an eyewitness – he writes in the first person ‘we’. He must have decided to accompany the prisoner Paul to minister to him during the voyage and to give moral support to him at Rome. He was thus in an ideal position to recount the disaster that overtook the great ship in which they travelled.

 

All started well. Paul was one of a number of prisoners being transported to Rome, in the custody of a centurion and a band of soldiers as guards. It seems they travelled on private ships, the fare presumably being reimbursed by the State.

[Resource Manager]

The first leg of the voyage, from Caesarea to Lycia near the island of Rhodes, passed without incident. Here the centurion found berths on a grain ship sailing from Alexandria to Italy. Surprisingly, in those days, North Africa, including the area which is now the Sahara Desert, was the main source of food for the teeming population of Rome. ‘Bread and circuses’ were the key to popularity in Rome, and a steady stream of giant vessels crossed the Mediterranean on two long tacks to reach the capital. The size of the vessel can be judged from the fact that although it was designed mainly for cargo, passengers being incidental to the main purpose of the voyage, Luke counted a total, including the crew, of 276 people on board (Acts 27:37).

 

It was already late summer when they left Lycia, and the wind was blowing from the northeast, a direction that forced the ship out into the Mediterranean towards Crete. Luke comments on their slow progress; “As the wind did not allow us to go on, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Coasting along with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens” (Acts 26:7-8). A crisis meeting was held at this point. Autumn was fast approaching with its heavy storms, and they had no hope of reaching Italy in a reasonable time. The normal procedure for those days was to lay up the ship in a safe anchorage and over-winter on dry land. It would be expensive and frustrating for modern traders or tour operators to be so restricted by the weather, but in the first century it was a fact of life.

 

The problem was, although Fair Havens sounds a good place to lay up a ship, it was too exposed for the peace of mind of the Captain, who advised risking another short voyage around Crete to Phoenice in the southwest. Paul was against this idea. He was uncomfortably familiar with the Mediterranean, having already been shipwrecked three times. The season was now so advanced that the danger from even a short voyage, in his view outweighed the advantage of a better harbour. As Rome was paying the fares of the soldiers and prisoners, the centurion had the last word. He was more inclined to trust the captain, who was supposed to be the expert. Accordingly, when they woke one morning to a gentle south wind, they set off from Fair Havens, creeping round the shore towards Phoenice. Unfortunately the wind changed. Backing sharply to the northeast and changing in force, it drove them out to sea, away from Crete altogether. They were towing a small boat, which they managed to haul on deck, and while temporarily sheltered by a small island, they prepared for the inevitable storm by dropping loops of rope over the prow and under the keel, tying the ends across the deck to bind the timbers more strongly together. Taking off all sail, they drove southwest under bare poles. The next day the storm blew unabated, and with the ship wallowing heavily, they decided to jettison some of the cargo of wheat to lighten it. The spars and tackle followed over the side. Paul had been right, after all.

 

How could he have felt as the breakers thudded into the quivering timbers, and icy spray stung the wet bodies of sailors, solders and prisoners alike? Did he feel close to death? Was he reminded of Jonah, storm tossed in just the same sea, or the disciples in the boat on Galilee? “Where is your faith?” Jesus had chided his trembling followers. Was Paul afraid? We know for certain that he was. Luke records that an angel stood by him in the boat one night, with four familiar words that run like a refrain through the Bible, bringing comfort to all God’s children in distress. “Do not be afraid, Paul” was his message, “you must stand before Caesar, and lo, God has granted you all those who sail with you (Acts 27:24).

 

Rising to the fore in this time of crisis, Paul the prisoner inspired centurion and sailors alike with his calm faith in his God. “We shall have to run on some island” he insisted; that was how they would be saved.

[Resource Manager]

Graphically, Luke describes how on the fourteenth night the sailors sensed through the inky darkness the sound of billows crashing against distant cliffs. Depth soundings confirmed the nearness of land. A cowardly attempt by the mariners to escape in the ship’s boat was thwarted by Paul’s vigilance. At dawn the sailors spied what seemed to be a sandy bay, and “hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a shoal they ran the vessel aground; the bow stuck and remained unmovable, and the stern was broken up by the surf” (Acts 27:40-41). It was a case of every man for himself, but just as Paul had been promised, even the non-swimmers reached land safely. Even then Paul’s adventures were not over. The shipwreck victims were soaked, chilled and exhausted. They badly needed warmth. The natives of the land, flocking to the shore, hastily constructed a great bonfire to dry them out. Paul, ever practical, set about gathering wood. A poisonous snake crawled out of his bundle of sticks and bit deeply into his am. To the amazement of the barbarians, he shook it off into the fire and suffered absolutely no ill effects. Later he was able to further impress them, and repay their hospitality, by healing the father of the chief man of the island. In fact, by the time spring came, Paul and his company were firm favourites with the islanders, and when the time came to leave, they were despatched with many honours, setting sail in another Alexandrian vessel which had wintered in the island. And so, at last, the apostle came safely to Rome.

 

There is little doubt that the island Paul’s grain ship struck was Malta. It is even possible to identify Ras el Koura, the bay of the shipwreck, with its shelving beach and the tiny island to one side, deceptively invisible from the sea, with a tide race to the rear in which the vessel was twisted and broken. The impact of the story only strikes you when you consult a map. Most Bibles have a diagram showing Paul’s journeys in the end papers at the back. Find the point on Crete where the ship set off that sunny autumn morning, and follow the long track west and south along which it was driven by the gale. The distance is around 500 miles, which, in fourteen days, gives an average drift of 1.5 miles per hour. Now check the profile of Malta, the maximum distance north to south over which they might have struck land. It is about 20 miles. Consider those results. If the angle of drift of the vessel had been only 2.5 degrees to the north or south, it would have missed Malta altogether and either foundered, or blown straight into the coast of Tunisia in the area of the Lesser Syrtes, the dreaded quicksands, graveyard of many noble vessels.

 

Surely the hand of God was protecting Paul during those desperate days and nights. His hour had not yet come. He must witness to the gospel before Caesar in Rome. To the joy of his friends, his work of preaching and teaching would resume.

 

Many of us have experienced similar perils to Paul, and have felt the same relief and gratitude when we have afterwards found ourselves still alive. How would you like to have the same calm faith, inspiring your companions in a crisis, confident that God will bring you through? You can, of course. The words of the Psalmist apply to all those who have given their lives to God by joining his family; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in he heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam (Psalm 46:1-3) Whether we think of the sea of life or the sea of nations roaring in tumult and distress, God will bring us safely through all danger to the haven and peace of his glorious Kingdom, the Kingdom that Paul laboured so faithfully to preach.

[Resource Manager]

(12) Letters from Prison

 

Soft winds and spring flowers warmed the heart of the apostle Paul as the little party of prisoners trudged with their guards along the well paved Roman road from Puteoli. It was a relief to feel the breeze and the hot sun after the years he had spent in prison. The respite, unhappily, was to be short-lived. He faced with trepidation the prospect of his impending trial before the emperor at Rome. Each step north was taking him nearer to the headquarters of the giant bureaucratic machine that had crushed his people with jaws of iron and executed his master in spite of his innocence. Paul had no illusions as to his probable fate. Imagine his relief and gratitude therefore, when it turned out that a small band of travellers coming towards them at the Forum of Appii was actually a group of Christian disciples who had heard Paul had landed at Puteoli, and set off from Rome to welcome him. Their thoughtfulness and support cheered his aged heart. So moved was he, reports Luke, that he “thanked God and took courage” (Acts 28:15).

 

Paul’s first move on reaching the capital was diplomatic. He was permitted by the Department of Justice to hire his own accommodation while waiting for his case to come up, where he was confined with a Roman soldier as a guard. He was free to receive visitors, and he decided to introduce himself to the leaders of the Jewish synagogues in Rome, of which there are thought to have been at least seven. They were curious to meet Paul, and he was anxious to outline his position to them himself, before enemies from the Jerusalem Jewish community had a chance to wag their poisonous tongues. It was a unique opportunity to preach the gospel to a ‘captive’ audience, (although he was truly the prisoner!) and he made the most of it. For a whole day “he expounded the matter to them from morning to evening” writes Luke “testifying to the Kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the prophets” (Acts 28:23). He actually made a little headway. Some were convinced by what he said. Others, more prejudiced, would not agree with him. They went home arguing between themselves. Paul’s parting shot was one of reproach “Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen” (Acts 28:28). So the great apostle had done his duty by his master, the Lord Jesus. The good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ had arrived in the capital of the empire. He had preached the gospel in Rome also.

 

What next, you might ask? What was the outcome of Paul’s appearance before the emperor? Was he set free, to continue his missionary journeys? Strangely the record in Acts is silent. It is as if Luke, having covered the journey to Rome, considered his account complete. All he tells us is that Paul lived on in his hired accommodation for two whole years, and preached the Kingdom of God to all his visitors. Presumably at the end of two years his case would come up for a hearing. Roman justice obviously took as leisurely a course as the equivalent today! But Luke is silent about the verdict.

 

To find out more about those two ‘hidden’ years, we need to turn to Paul’s epistles His stay in prison, though irksome, was productive in letter writing, and with a little research we can uncover some fascinating stories. Like noted that Paul received a stream of visitors. One of the more unusual of these was a runaway slave. This man, Onesimus, has a whole book devoted to him, named after his master, Philemon. Philemon came from Colosse, a city not actually listed in Paul’s journeys, but the home of a group of disciples well known to him, for he wrote them a letter from prison. Philemon was probably one of the most influential members of the church, or ecclesia, at Colosse, because Paul mentions the church met in his house (Philemon 2).

[Resource Manager]

As a man of substance, Philemon would own a number of slaves, who would be likely to attend upon him during services, as well as for everyday tasks. In this way it is not hard to imagine Onesimus travelling with his master to Ephesus to meet the apostle Paul, and overhearing the long and earnest conversations they would have had before Philemon was baptised as a Christian. Now the young slave had run away, heading northwest for Rome. A runaway was liable to be executed if caught, but in the metropolis he would be swallowed up in the seething crowds, just as criminals today lie up in London to escape from justice. What strange circumstance brought him to the apostle’s lodgings we cannot guess. Perhaps he was desperately lonely, remembered his master speaking of the imprisonment of the saintly apostle, and deliberately sought him out. He came to the right man. Paul took to Onesimus as a father to a son, and before long Onesimus, like his master, had become a disciple of Jesus. The problem was, what to do next. Paul enjoyed having Onesimus to run errands, but felt obliged to send him back to Philemon now the two men were brothers in Christ. If Onesimus simply turned up on his doorstep at Colosse, Philemon would jump angrily on him. So Paul wrote a short introductory letter for Onesimus to take back, a model of tact and diplomacy, that would melt Philemon’s heart. We can imagine the astonishment on his face, as Philemon eventually looked from the piece of paper to Onesimus and back, and at last stepped down to give his slave the Christian kiss of peace.

 

Paul had other visitors to his house of detention. We know that his good friends at Philippi sent him gifts on at least two occasions, brought by the hand of a messenger, Epaphroditus, for our epistle to the Philippians was Paul’s thank you letter. To his dismay Epaphroditus fell gravely ill while at Rome, but recovered sufficiently to be sent back with the letter (Philippians 4:25-27). Timothy too, Paul’s son in the faith, was with him (Colossians1:1), as was Luke, his constant companion. Most interesting is the fact that Paul sends greetings from Rome on behalf of an unknown number of disciples “of Caesar’s household”. Paul writes in Philippians that “it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” (Philippians 1:13). It sounds as though some of the Roman soldiers chained to Paul on duty, and therefore bound to hear his persuasive arguments for belief in God, had themselves become disciples. Paul never lost a chance to preach the Word of Life.

 

There are hints in Philippians, Philemon and Colossians that Paul, at the time of writing, expected soon to be released. There is little doubt that he was, in fact, set free. In three letters written after the Acts (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus) we find Paul referring to a journey he had recently made to Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3), Crete (Titus 1:5), Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), and Troas (2 Timothy 4:13). None of these visits fit into the record of Acts; Paul does not travel to Crete at all in his three earlier preaching tours. These journeys must therefore have been made after he was set free. It looks as if he had to abandon his earlier plan to go to Spain, and instead made another short Mediterranean voyage. But time was running out. We know from history that around AD 64 the emperor Nero turned hostile to the Christians. As a ringleader of the movement, it would not be long before Paul was re-arrested and imprisoned. This time he had no hope of acquittal. It was no use appealing to Caesar when Caesar himself was the enemy. As he writes his last letter to Timothy, we sense that the apostle knows his end is near. He had already had a first hearing, at which he records sorrowfully not one of his friends was prepared to give evidence on his behalf (2 Timothy 4:16) He begs Timothy to come to him quickly, for only the faithful Luke was left with him, and he knew it was time to say goodbye. In spite of his dismal prospects, his faith was firm and his courage undimmed.

[Resource Manager]

“The time of my departure has come” he declares “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that a Day” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Nero, the unrighteous judge, would condemn him to die, but Jesus, Paul’s master, had “abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

 

One morning, the sun hot on his face and the wind rustling in the trees at the roadside, the aged apostle would be led from his dark prison cell into the green countryside outside the walls of Rome. His Roman citizenship ensured a swift death by the sword.

 

At last those weary feet, that ready pen, the tongue that had lifted thousands from a life of sin and death to the hope of the gospel, were stilled in the sleep of death. But Paul’s work went on. His indominitable spirit had laid the foundation on which others would build. In time the gospel preachers would press westward and north into Europe. By the power of the printing press, his words would bring light to a circle far wider than his original readership, and through translation men and women “from all tribes and peoples and tongues” would embrace the truth for which he lived and died.

 

We come at the end of the queue. The time of which Paul wrote, that Day when the Judge will come to give him his reward is drawing very near. Let us make sure we grasp the gift of the gospel, brought to us at such cost, with both hands, now, while we still have the chance. The crown which Jesus brings will be given, Paul promised “not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). This is the challenge we leave with you as our study draws to its close.

 

Mirror - God So Loved the World

 

TheActsOfTheApostlesPearce.pdf