Day 46: Paul comes to Rome, the story Continues....

So, in this final installment in the book of The Acts of the Apostles, Paul testifies convincingly to King Agrippa.  In fact, in some translations, he says he is "almost persuaded" to become a follow of The Way.  But, not quite.  Paul shares his testimony, his former life as a Pharisee, how he came to believe in Jesus, and what he is doing now.  King Agrippa is almost persuaded.  Others shout out that Paul has gone crazy (from too much learning, they say...).  Everyone agrees, though, that there is no reason for Paul to be arrested.  He could be released.

If only he hadn't appealed to Rome.

So, Paul sets out, as a prisoner, for Rome.  It's late to make the sea journey, and Paul (who comes off just a little as a know-it-all) warns them that they will run into trouble.  Which they do.  Paul becomes a leader, encouraging and supporting the crew and the other prisoners, blessing food for a meal (which sounds a lot like a communion mean, even though most of the people on board are not believer), and leading the people as they unload the grain in an effort to avoid shipwrecked.

Just as Paul prophesied, they are shipwrecked anyway, but although they lose their ship, they do not lose any lives.  The crew were considering killing all of the prisoners, so that they wouldn't escape, but the centurion prevented this.  On shore, a poisonous snake bites Paul, but he is unfazed by this.  Paul also is a healer on the island (which they discover is Malta).

Finally, Paul and his companions make it to Rome.  He gets a chance to make his case in the synagogue in Rome, where Paul again meets with a mixed reception.  Some believe in Paul's message about Jesus, but others are skeptical and converse among themselves.  Paul is going to continue to preach the message about Jesus among the Gentiles.

The final verse of Acts does not seem so much like an ending.  We don't know what happens to Paul.  He doesn't come to trial while he is there.  We only know that at the end of the book of Acts, Paul is still awaiting trial, but preaching freely and doing his ministry in this place.

There is no ending.

Not until the final verse of the book of Revelation, when the new heaven and the new earth is revealed.

In the meantime, there are still Acts being written, or being lived, your Acts and mine, or rather, the Acts of Jesus in us.

As for Paul,  what does happen to him?  There are some people who believe that he journeyed further, that he preached and testified in Spain.  Most scholars believe that he was, finally, martyred in Rome.

Maybe it's better not to know for sure.  Because Acts 29 is being written in every disciple that journeys with Jesus, and every community that shares his name.

Day 43: Paul's Journeys, until Jerusalem....

This is where it's a good idea to start looking at a map, to keep track of the towns Paul travels through, the seas he sails through, as well as the people he meets.  At the beginning of chapter 19, Paul is traveling through Ephesus and meets some believers who have not yet received the Holy Spirit.  Not only that, they haven't even heard of the existence of the Holy Spirit.  He prays for them, and immediately they begin to speak in languages and prophecy.

Coincidentailly, there are "about" twelve of them. hmmmmm.

In the meantime, things are not going so smoothly in the synagogues.  There are people who are convinced about Paul's message, but many more who are not. One small, odd story concerns some exorcists who do not appear to believe in Jesus but who like to cast out evil spirits in his name.  At one point, the spirits ask the exorcists, "Jesus I know, and Paul I am familiar with, but who are you?"

Personally, the very small detail about people being healed by touching even small pieces of cloth that have been touched by Paul is the strangest to me.  This reminds me of the stories of medieval relics that have healing power.  What do you think about this?  In the midst of all of this trouble, the power of healing through Paul only gets stronger.

Paul decides to return to Jerusalem, which a lot of people think is a big mistake.  Many people try to talk him out of it.

At the same time, Paul is getting into trouble not just with Jews but with Gentiles who feel that he has "dissed" their goddess, Artemis.  He is a friend of no one's status quo.  His truth disturbs everyone, in some way or another.  His words and presence cause riots.

Aside:  during a theological conversation that lasts all night, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep, and falls out the window.  He is pronounced dead, but Paul raises him from death.  (possibly where the saying "bored to death" is from?)  (Just asking.)

Despite many many protests, Paul returns to Jerusalem.  Many of his friends plead with him, pray for him, beg him, but he leaves.  He arrives in Jerusalem to find it just as his friends have feared.  James tries to protect him, but Paul is the center of controversy and gossip in Jerusalem, because of what people have heard about the Gentiles, and what they claim that Paul is preaching.  Paul purifies himself to prove that he's still a good Jew, and James and other Jerusalem leaders repeat what they told the Gentile churches:  all they nee to do is abstain from eating blood, eating food sacrificed to idols, and from sexual immorality.

It does no good.  Paul is set up and arrested.  He appeals as a citizen of the Empire for the right to speak.

And speak he does.

(to be continued)