“A Spirit-Led Destination"
Acts 28:1-31
Now when we came to Rome, … [Acts 28:16]
These are six words with profound significance. They affirmed God’s sovereignty. God’s plan goes forward; always, with or without us. Jesus told Paul he would minister in Rome, and so, in Rome he would be.
While in a Jerusalem prison, Jesus 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 23:11] When Jesus says, “you must be” at a destination then you will be at that destination as you take steps of faith. It was such in Paul’s journey to Rome. It was difficult, but Paul knew he would succeed. In the end Paul fulfilled his call to Rome. God’s sovereign plan went forward with him.
This also fulfilled a corporate call upon the church. Before ascending, Jesus instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit and then go out to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth preaching the good news [ref. Acts 1:8]. The Spirit came upon the church at Pentecost in Acts 2, and then the expansion came thereafter throughout the entire Roman Empire.
Paul was now primed to spend two years in Rome under house arrest to freely minister to Jews, Gentiles and all who chose to visit him, even Caesar Augustus. It was there that Paul wrote the prison epistles, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. The witness of Jesus Christ had been taken into heart and soul of the ancient world.
But the expansion did not stop there. As one commentator put it, “Acts 29 continues to be written today.” The increase in people and geography of the church continues. And its dispensation will continue until the Rapture [ref. 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17].
These are exciting times because the next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church. We must therefore be ready. Jesus warned to be watchful and ready for His return because it will come as a thief in the night.
Acts ends with a call to be ready. “Boldly and without hindrance he [Paul] preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Acts 28:30-31].
This is how we, too, can be ready: Preaching the Kingdom and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.
May we be ready for our Lord’s return by committing our days to these very things: Preaching, teaching, and ministering Jesus.
