"Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him." (Acts 28:16)
(Paul preached to the Jewish leaders of the diaspora.)
In the very last chapter of Acts there was a terrible storm and a ship wreck as Paul made his way to Rome. Notwithstanding, he was on a mission which he fully intended to finish.
Why was he so determined to go to Rome besides the obvious reason? Remember, he had appealed to Caesar which saved him from the Jews who were plotting to kill him. But there was another very compelling reason.
Consider for a moment: What was Rome at that time? As Jerusalem was the Headquarters of Judaism for the Jews of homeland so Rome was the HQ to the Jews of the dispersion. Rome, obviously, was the center of the Roman Empire and back then it was a Roman world.
As you saw in part 11 of this study, the Jews of homeland through their leadership completely and totally rejected Jesus. Now the Jews of the dispersion through their leadership were to be given a chance. Through Paul, they would be able to hear the Gospel and decide for themselves.
He was guarded by a centurion who was very favorably disposed toward him. If you read the previous chapter, Acts 27, you'll know why.
Once in Rome, Paul arranged a meeting with the elders and leaders.
Let's read:
"And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the *LEADERS OF THE JEWS together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans," (Acts 28:17)
Paul proceeded to tell them the his whole story. Here is their response:
"Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning THIS SECT, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” (Acts 28:21-22)
Paul proceeded to tell them the his whole story. Here is their response:
"Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning THIS SECT, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” (Acts 28:21-22)
They're calling Christianity "a sect;". Sound familiar? It should. We hear the same kind of thing from Christians today who come against The Gospel: "Oh you grace people," as if grace is some kind of new doctrine or some heretical cult. If they understood they were rejecting the real Gospel I'm sure they would be greatly dismayed!
Acts ends on a very sad note. Look at these very last verses:
"So when they {the Jewish leaders} had appointed him {Paul} a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening......"
Are you gettin' this?! They sat and listened to Paul ALL DAY! Most folks I know have a hard time sitting in Church for a whole hour, maybe less!.....
".....And SOME WERE PERSUADED by the things which were spoken, and SOME DISBELIEVED.
So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, "Go to this people and say:
"Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."'
“THEREFORE LET IT BE KNOWN TO YOU THAT THE SALVATION OF GOD HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GENTILES, AND THEY WILL HEAR IT!”
And when he had said these words, THE JEWS DEPARTED AND HAD A GREAT DISPUTE AMONG THEMSELVES.
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” (Acts 28:23-31)
How Paul's heart must have sunk. Very disappointing! Even the ones who were persuaded, in the end, they also disbelieved.
“THEREFORE LET IT BE KNOWN TO YOU THAT THE SALVATION OF GOD HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GENTILES, AND THEY WILL HEAR IT!”
And when he had said these words, THE JEWS DEPARTED AND HAD A GREAT DISPUTE AMONG THEMSELVES.
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” (Acts 28:23-31)
How Paul's heart must have sunk. Very disappointing! Even the ones who were persuaded, in the end, they also disbelieved.
So all the Jews: Those of homeland and those of the dispersion, have been given a chance to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Both have, through their leadership, completely and fully rejected Him.
God, in His great mercy, gave them chance after chance after chance to accept Him, to see Him establish His visible, earthly kingdom and rule the world from Jerusalem.
Jesus would have returned to them if the Jews of the dispersion accepted Him.
Now, the final verdict is in: Kingdom of Heaven is officially postponed until after the seven years of the Tribulation when Jesus returns.
Please join me for part 13 of Rightly Dividing The Word Of God. We’ll be talking about the Church age and Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles.
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