Today's passage marks the fulfillment of the Gospel spreading from Jerusalem to Rome, going even beyond the territory Paul had claimed in Romans 15:17-19: "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done -- by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." The Gospel had now penetrated the entire "known" world of the Roman empire. The seeds of its truth would grow and bear fruit for the centuries to come and would ultimately win the heart of Emperor Constantine, who would embrace Christianity as the faith for the entire empire.
In Paul and Luke's excellent adventure, we see that, despite the Jews' protestations in Jerusalem, which ultimately led to his imprisonment in Caesarea and Rome and the treacherous sea passage in between, God had a greater plan. As Scott explained this morning, and as Joseph noted in Genesis 50:20, "you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
In the shipwreck (Acts 27:13-44), one of the most vivid accounts in all of ancient literature, we may witness the attempts of feeble man to control what only God may control. The NIV Study Bible offers a helpful note regarding this event's deeper significance: "Like's magnificent account of the storm at sea is possibly intended to be more than just an interesting story well told. Here at the climax of his account of the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, especially through the labors of the apostle Paul, he provides in cameo an exquisite depiction of the state of the world seen from the perspective of Paul's gospel: The peoples of the world (represented by the ship's passengers) stand under the threat of God's judgment (represented by the terrible storm), with Paul and what he represents being their only hope. On board are representatives of the world's economic, military and political powers and those skilled in navigating the sea, but none of these can master the raging storm to save themselves or their possessions. They escape only as they follow Paul's instructions." The parallels with Jonah's voyage (Jonah 1:4-16) are striking. People seek the true and living God in their distress.
The Book of Acts concludes in triumph. While Paul does face house arrest, the circumstances come together for the spreading of the Kingdom (28:30,31): "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." This boldness came from the same Holy Spirit Who had touched the believers back in Acts 4:22-31. Christ's words of Acts 1:8 had come to life!
QUESTIONS
1. What difficulties have you faced in 2009? How has God used them for His glory?
2. In what ways might you seek more boldness as you love family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors during this Christmastime?
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