Tonight is a joyous night for us, for as Paul reaches his destination in Rome and we reach ours in this twenty-eighth chapter. Many of us probably feel like we have been on this tiresome journey with him, for our quest through this book has lasted a while.1 However, before there are too many shouts of joy (or lamentation), let me tell you what’s going to happen over the next several weeks.
First of all, because we are approaching Pentecost (50 days after the Passover), I want to look next week at the blessings of the New Covenant which were ushered in at the events of Pentecost. Second, in a few weeks, I want to come back and see what the coming of Christ and the book of Acts as a whole teach us about the kingdom of God. I want to do this because I think this is one of the major themes of the book, for Luke begins his work recording that Jesus appeared to his disciples over a period of forty days after his resurrection, “speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3), and ends writing, “[Paul] was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God …” (28:30-31). Finally, I want to look at one or two controversial issues that stem from the interpretation (or misinterpretation) of the events recorded in this book. Tonight, though, we will finish our study through each section of the book by looking at these final two chapters.
In chapter 27 and 28, Luke records Paul’s struggle filled trip (by ship) to Rome and his ability to share the gospel in Caesar’s household. But why does he end the book this way? Why oes he spend so much time talking in detail about the trip to Rome by ship? Why does he include so many details of their struggles, taking up so many verses? And in the last chapter, why does Luke end the book so open-ended and seemingly unfinished? He doesn’t even go into detail of Paul standing before Caesar (as he had done in Paul’s previous trials), but simply tells us that Paul shared Christ unhindered. Why?
I think Luke does this because he has an objective. He is not merely historical in his efforts, for though that would answer the question of chapter 27, it gives no answer for the lack of details in chapter 28. Rather, Luke (though giving us a historical account in some sense) is giving us theological lessons from the text. And in these chapters, I think Luke wants the reader to see two main things.
The first thing Luke wants us to see (and the reason for the details of chapter 27) is the providence of God. For God had told Paul that he would testify in Rome (23:11), and God got him there. This is surely what we are to see from this chapter. When God speaks, he providentially ensures that his plans will happen; they cannot be thwarted.
“But what about all the things that might happen?” we might ask. The greater question, however, is, “What can undo the plans and decrees of God?” For after God had told Paul he would get to Rome, here’s what happens:
1. People plot to kill him (23:12-13).
2. On the ship, the men disobey his advice, make the wrong decision, and sail into danger (27:9-12).
3. They encounter violent storms (27:13-20).
4. Slaves on the ship try to escape in the confusion (27:27-32).
5. They run low on food and do without for fourteen days (27:33).
6. There was a shipwreck, with the ship breaking into pieces (27:41-44).
7. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake (28:1-6) yet what happens?
8. Paul reaches Rome safely (28:11-16).
Should we expect anything different? Of course not. For God spoke, called Paul to Rome, told him he would get there (and remember that God is the Creator and God of the universe, controlling all things), and so Paul got to Rome. God’s providence in steering, guiding, and fulfilling his plans is unstoppable. I think that is what Luke wants us to see.
And we not only see this in Paul’s trip to Rome as a whole but also in his individual decisions and conversation.
While Paul was on the ship, an angel appeared to him and told him that they would be fine and that no one would lose his life. Therefore, Paul acts on this, telling the men to take courage, eat the food, and encourages them that they will live (27:21-26, 33-36).
How can he be so sure of this that he is willing to act on it? He can be sure because of his belief in the providence of God to be able to carry out what he says.
This has lessons for us. The first one that I see is that we must obey and act when God speaks. For example, Paul got on a ship to go to Rome and Paul told the men to take courage because he knew they would live. And he did all this by simply acting on what God had said. We need to do the same. When we are sure that God has spoken to us, directing us to do something, we should do it. It is not our job to figure it all out.
Now, in that, I’m not saying we should abandon reason completely and forget responsibility. Paul still advised the men not to sail on into the winter lest they encounter violent storms and the loss of life. He acted responsibly. What I am saying, though, is that we cannot refuse to be obedient just because we can’t figure out how God is going to get it done. We need to trust him at his word.
And, within that, a second lesson is that we need not walk in anxiety while walking in obedience to God’s commands. When we step out on faith, we are not stepping out in the dark but on the fact that God has spoken. And we can walk in peace with faith in God’s providence.
How does this boil down to our lives? Let me give you an example using Kenny and Shannon. Kenny and Shannon prayed about whether or not they were to move to Georgia, and God assured them that this was his will for them. And so they obeyed; Kenny accepted the job. But what about the difficulty of leaving Trinity and Cornerstone? What about the adjustment of their boys? What about the house not being sold yet? What if Kenny’s staff is horrible? What if rent is expensive?
Do we see how silly those questions are in light of the providence of God? God said Rome; Paul got to Rome, and God took care of everything along the way. The same will be true with Kenny and Shannon in their move. And the same will be true for us. God is in control, all-powerful, and good. That is a good combination for his children.
To live in disobedience and anxiety shows a lack of faith in God being who the Scripture says he is.
But what about suffering? Isn’t that what makes us doubt God and his providence? It is one thing to have faith, obey, and not be anxious when everything is going well. But what about when we are suffering?
Well, in a word, suffering means nothing different. For suffering is often just a tool that God is using to accomplish his providential will. I’m sure Paul’s desire was not to arrive in Rome in chains. But it was surely God’s, for this is how Paul would speak to the Caesar—in trial. And that was God’s desire (Acts 27:24). In fact, we are assured that Paul uses this as he writes the letter to the Philippians from prison in Rome (most likely) and comments, “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (4:22).2 And this follows his statement in 1:12-14 that his “circumstances … turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that [his] imprisonment in the cause of Christ [had] become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else … and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of [his] imprisonment, [had] far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”
Obviously God uses our suffering to fulfill his providential will. He had done it earlier in Acts as persecution was what drove the believers to cry out for boldness to speak the gospel (Acts 4) and was what pushed them to take the gospel to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8). It even seems that when God is about to work on a great level, suffering is rarely absent. Suffering is often a part of the means of God’s working.
And there are reasons for this. I have mentioned many in the past. The one I will mention tonight is that suffering authenticates the gospel. Paul was in prison and suffering for not other reason than that he believed so strongly in his message and the world’s need for it that he refused to stop proclaiming it. People can say they believe a lot of things, but when a man is willing to suffer and give his life for a truth, he demands an audience.
I’ve read the story of Joseph Tson, who was a pastor in Oradea, Romania during years of communist oppression. He was often arrested and brutally interrogated as he preached the gospel. On one occasion, his life was threatened while being interrogated. he responded, “Your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying.” He then told his captors that he had recorded sermons on tape, written tracts, and that if he died, the people would know that he was willing to die for his beliefs and be quite interested in what he preached. His captors let him go.
He was right. Suffering authenticates our message. Paul’s listeners had to have thought he was either crazy or absolutely right in what he was saying. There is no room for middle ground. He was bound and ready to die for his message.
I mention this because we often let suffering make us doubt God’s providence when it is often his tool. Sure, he uses it as a tool for discipline, so we need to be aware of sin in our lives, but quite often we need to anticipate God’s working while suffering instead of living in doubt. For God is able and bound by his word to work all things together for good in the lives of his children.
Again, for application of this, we need look no further than Robbie and Kim’s suffering without children in order that God might bring Samuel to them, Kenny and Shannon’s struggle in prayer over whether or not to move so that God might strengthen them in prayer as they minister there, all of our prayers for a staff that has the same goal, and suffering encountered at work that brings us to a place of blessing on our knees.
The ways God works through suffering are innumerable. Even physical suffering creates a longing in us for God which then brings glory to him. Paul (knowledgeable of physical suffering) was the writer of Romans 8. He longed for home as deeply as anyone.
And the second thing that I think Luke wants us to see is that the mission given in Acts 1:8 needs to be completed. I think Luke (under the guidance of the Spirit) leaves Acts open at the end because he is communicating that the mission has yet to be completed. The gospel has yet to reach all the ends of the earth.
We need to pray for, and join in, this task. In fact, currently we are forming a missions council in order that we might better focus our energies on this task as a church.
But we need not all go overseas, for Paul’s life teaches us that we should evangelize right where we are. Paul was in prison writing his epistles and teaching about the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He did the same whether he was in trial or on a boat. Wherever God puts you, spread the message of the gospel of the kingdom of God. Speak the gospel to those in whose midst God has placed you.
Let his providence give us peace and courage for a mission still awaiting completion. Let us be part of his great work of calling men to himself from the ends of the earth. For his grace is with us. Amen.