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 44: Paul's Testimony, and what happens next..

To be honest with you, I would have liked it much better if Paul had given his powerful testimony of conversion on the road to Damascas, and the result was that everybody (or most everybody) (or, a large group of people, anyway) was convinced and convicted by his story, and changed their hearts.  Or, at least, decided not to kill him.

But that's not what happened.  The plot thickens.  Paul tells everyone about what a good Jew he was, and is, and how he was on the way to persecute Christians, and the blinding light, and the voice, and how the Jewish believer Ananais came to him and restored his sight. 

It's such a powerful testimony that the voices rise up, "He deserves to die!"  Which is what they already thought.

I always think that our stories are so powerful, more powerful than statistics, statistics don't convince people, but stories do.  And that is true -- sometimes.  Other times, we have our minds so made up already that the most moving story will not move us.

So.....there are people who have Paul so much that they have made a vow that they will not eat or drink until they kill him.  They are going to ambush those who are holding him and kill him.

Paul has a couple of aces up his sleeve, however.  One is his Roman citizenship.  He has certain rights, and he is going to use them. 

He also cleverly refers to his belief in the resurrection of the dead to stir up controversy between the Saducees and the Pharisees.  Two groups who were formerly united against him are not (at least temporarily) divided and arguing with each other.  There's a pragmatic streak to Paul. 

This is an ongoing story, and we are not to the end of it yet.  What happens next?  Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment....