Articles
Paul in Rome - Acts 28
Paul in Rome - Acts 28
Paul had been planning on getting to Rome for some time, but none of his plans matched HOW he finally got there! Preaching the gospel of Jesus brought persecution, arrest, mock-trials, perilous sea journey, ship-wreck, being bitten by a snake. All in all, not the journey Paul would have planned.
Now in Rome, the ‘trial’ is a farce. Yet, in line with Roman law and procedure, Paul is NOT set free (immediately), but kept under house arrest, and that for 2 years. Life is not fair, and serving the Lord is not always easy.
What does Paul do in such circumstance? What he has been doing all along: preaches Christ! When ‘free’, he preached. When under arrest, he preached. He preached to the Jewish people, he preached to the Gentiles. He preached in wicked cities such as Corinth. He preached to common people, but he also preached to Felix and Agrippa. Such was his stated goal: “ 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him” ( 2 Corinthians 5:9).
In the end, he will die as a martyr. That is, at the end of THIS life. Such death would be GAIN.
Are you finding life ‘unfair’? Do your plans not work out as planned? Do you find it difficult to serve the Lord? Don’t quit! The promise is eternal life. With the Lord’s help, you will make it! Be though faithful unto death, and you shall receive a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
Hugh DeLong
