Who Understands Faith?
Paul Evangelizes in Rome
Acts 28:16-22
The Message
14-16 And
then we came to Rome. Friends in Rome heard we were on the way and came
out to meet us. One group got as far as Appian Court; another group met
us at Three Taverns—emotion-packed meetings, as you can well imagine.
Paul, brimming over with praise, led us in prayers of thanksgiving. When
we actually entered Rome, they let Paul live in his own private
quarters with a soldier who had been assigned to guard him.
17-20 Three days later, Paul called the Jewish leaders together for a meeting at his house. He said, “The Jews in Jerusalem arrested me on trumped-up charges, and I was taken into custody by the Romans. I assure you that I did absolutely nothing against Jewish laws or Jewish customs. After the Romans investigated the charges and found there was nothing to them, they wanted to set me free, but the Jews objected so fiercely that I was forced to appeal to Caesar. I did this not to accuse them of any wrongdoing or to get our people in trouble with Rome. We’ve had enough trouble through the years that way. I did it for Israel. I asked you to come and listen to me today to make it clear that I’m on Israel’s side, not against her. I’m a h'ostage here for hope, not doom.”
21-22 They said, “Nobody wrote warning us about you. And no one has shown up saying anything bad about you. But we would like very much to hear more. The only thing we know about this Christian sect is that nobody seems to have anything good to say about it.”
17-20 Three days later, Paul called the Jewish leaders together for a meeting at his house. He said, “The Jews in Jerusalem arrested me on trumped-up charges, and I was taken into custody by the Romans. I assure you that I did absolutely nothing against Jewish laws or Jewish customs. After the Romans investigated the charges and found there was nothing to them, they wanted to set me free, but the Jews objected so fiercely that I was forced to appeal to Caesar. I did this not to accuse them of any wrongdoing or to get our people in trouble with Rome. We’ve had enough trouble through the years that way. I did it for Israel. I asked you to come and listen to me today to make it clear that I’m on Israel’s side, not against her. I’m a h'ostage here for hope, not doom.”
21-22 They said, “Nobody wrote warning us about you. And no one has shown up saying anything bad about you. But we would like very much to hear more. The only thing we know about this Christian sect is that nobody seems to have anything good to say about it.”
For Reflection
In
spite of the criticism, in spite of the lies, in spite of the
manipulations by conspirators who strike out of self-interest, in spite
of those who misinterpret the gospel, there are those who clamor to
hear. Are you ready to hear the truth? Are you ready to tell the
truth? Are you ready to live the truth?
Pray
that
you ready to hear and understand the truth that under-girds the
gospel. Pray that you will be be ready to witness to the truth.
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