“From Jerusalem to Rome"
Acts 22:22-23:11
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” [Acts 23:1]
“For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” [1 Corinthians 13:9-10]
The “perfect” is Jesus. When Jesus comes “in part” prophesies will be “done away.” Why? Because the Word will be fully present. Now, however, in this life of faith, the gift of prophecy is active and vitally important.
Our passage gives us this sense. Paul “in part” received prophesies that he would be beaten, bound, and persecuted in Jerusalem. Those prophesies came true. However, their interpretation was off. Paul needed to go to Jerusalem.
Now, from Jesus Himself, Paul is given a word in full. Paul’s road to Rome is through Jerusalem. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1:8] God’s plan for the church was being exercised on multiple levels through Paul’s ministry and obedience.
Paul must go to Jerusalem to fulfill his call. “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” [Acts 9:15]
Paul continued reaching out to the Gentiles, in our passage this morning he is brought before the Sanhedrin to continue to reach out to the Jews. And in the next three chapters he fulfills his call to preach to “kings.”
“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” [Acts 20:22-24].
For Paul, the road to fulfilling his call went through Jerusalem where chains and persecution awaited. And while it was a difficult road, he considered it a reasonable service to present his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.
As we begin to wind down our study of Acts, the Spirit’s narrative will take us from Jerusalem to Rome to fulfill God’s sovereign plan of taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
God’s word and plan always come to pass.
