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 35: Ascent and Descent -- Beginning of the Acts of the Apostles

Luke and Theophilus are back for the second volume of writing, often called, simply, "Acts."  Have you ever thought about that?  But the full title is really, "The Acts of the Apostles," and this second volume written by Luke is about many of the miracles, healings, and other things the disciples did in the name of Jesus and in the power of Jesus.

But it begins with Jesus eating with his disciples, teaching his disciples, and, after 40 days, promising them that he would send them the Holy Spirit, so that they could say the things he wanted them to say and do the acts he wanted them to do.

During that ten-day waiting period, one of the tasks that the disciples face is choosing a replacement for Judas (the gory details of his demise are also included).  They have two candidates and pray and cast lots to discover the right choice.  What do you think of this means of electing an apostle?

Then, In Acts chapter 2, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes down and fills the disciples.  And I'll be honest, as a pastor, I am extremely familiar with this story.  I read it and hear it every year.  But it never fails to strike me as strange, very strange, exceedingly strange.  Sort of in the way the story of Lazarus is exceedingly strange.  There are the tongues of flame and the many languages and the accusations of drunkenness.

The other thing is, no matter how many times I read this story, I never fail to find something new here.  One year it was the realization that the disciples are gathered on the day of Pentecost, which is a Jewish harvest festival, and that on that day there was a harvest of souls (3,000 people) who heard the message of the gospel and became the first congregation.  Another year I heard the story of the disciples speaking many languages and realized that the emphasis was not on the disciples speech but on what the people heard "we hear the in our own native languages."  Probably everyone there would be able to understand the message if the disciples had spoken the language of the Roman empire, which everyone had to learn.  But no, all of the people heard in their own native languages.  It is as if Jesus' incarnation has expanded even farther, into every culture and nation.

So Peter preaches his word of judgment and grace, and the people repent.

The close of Acts chapter 2 sounds like an ideal community:  sharing food, praying together, sharing all things in common.  In a way, it's a incredible and unbelievable as the tongues of fire and the mighty wind.  Perhaps more unbelievable.