Acts chapter 28

vs 21

I guess if we assume that a letter would have taken as long to get to Rome as Paul did, then it's of little surprise that they haven't heard. Or perhaps The Jerusalem Jews think that the Roman Jews are just too far away and won't be so passionate as them about Paul.

vs 22

So Paul is given an open invitation to talk about the Way, because they have heard about it (in a negative way), but they are keen to consider his viewpoint. So that is a great opportunity for him.

vs 23

Of course, he was under house arrest, so they had to come to him. But it seems they did, and he let them have it!

vs 24

Results were mixed, which is to be expected.

vs 25-29

I have to look at these verses in one big chunk, partly because I usually do that with Bible quotes, but also because of the way Luke has written verse 25. See, Paul said something that made them disagree among themselves and eventually leave his house. Have you noticed that Paul's message to the Jews has been getting progressively more and more judgemental through Acts? I think it has.

The verse Paul chooses for these Jews is an intictment which Jesus also used. It speaks of God accepting the closed-off hearts and ears and eyes of the Jews, and Paul inteprets it as meaning that just as the Jews have neglected God's new gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gentiles will hear it, and actually listen and accept it!

30-31

Oh how I have longed to finally get to these verses. Of course, they are not at all satisfying. What happens to Paul? Does he ever get to meet Caesar? What about Peter? And the other Apostles? The truth is that Acts isn't about them. It's about the continuing work of the Holy Spirit. In a way, Acts could continue to be written today, about anywhere that Jesus continues to powerfully work and reach out.

And so that is Luke's end focus - Paul was in Rome for two years, and in those years he always boldly proclaimed Christ. From a human standpoint, we want to know results. But they are secondary - it is Christian obedience to proclaim the Kingdom with boldness. We are to leave the results up to God.