20240630 Acts 28:17-31 - Good News for the Whole World

 Acts 28 concludes the book of Acts. In one sentence, the book of Acts is about the witness to Jesus by the power of the Spirit for the expansion of the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. The book of Acts teaches about the gospel, church ministries, the new covenant, suffering, persecution, idolatry, diversity, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit for evangelism and missions.

In Acts 28:17-31, Paul is in custody in Rome (Ac 27:16). He has enough freedom to gather the local Jewish leaders. Paul says in Acts 28:17, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” In Acts 28:17-31, Paul defends himself by presenting the Christian message so the Jews in Rome can judge for themselves whether he is anti-Jewish or not.

This text fits right in line with the rest of the message of Acts. With this last message in Acts, we look again at the heart of the message the church has for the world. It is a message of hope. It is a message about the kingdom of God, and his reign in Jesus. It is a message for all people.

First, Paul Speaks of the Hope of Israel (Acts 28:20-22)

In Acts 28:20, Paul tells the Jewish leaders that it is because of the hope of Israel that he is a prisoner. Based on how the word “hope” is used in Acts 23, 25, and 26, it is clear Paul refers to the hope in the resurrection. For example, in Acts 23:6, Paul says, “It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” The people of Israel hoped in the resurrection. Paul sees the resurrection of Jesus as proof of this well-founded hope.

These are some hints of Israel’s hope in the resurrection from the Old Testament: Daniel 12:2 reads, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Isaiah 26:19 reads, “Your dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.”

Hope is an important theme of the Bible. Hope is what God offers the world. God is the hope for the world because he is good and sovereign. The feeling of hope is the appropriate response to God. Hope is confidence that a good thing will come to pass because God has promised that it will come to pass.

The hope of Israel was a hope in the resurrection of the dead for a new kind of existence, eternal life. This eternal life is marked by joy, harmony, and abundance.

Application

Today, Israel’s hope in the resurrection is also our Christian hope. This hope is what Christians offer Brussels. Brussels is the home of bad weather, endless bureaucracy, high taxes, and toxic workplaces. In these situations, Christians can respond in ways that do not fit the circumstances. This is because our minds are set on greater realities. We expect God to fulfill his good promises so we live generously, joyfully, and patiently. Our hope means we live in light of God’s promises, not our circumstances.

J. I. Packer helpfully lists three reasons for Christian hope:

1. Christians hope in meeting with Christ beyond this world.
2. Christians hope in their personal resurrection.
3. Christians hope in the joy of being with their Savior in glory forever.

Hope in these things must change our life. Hebrews 6:18-19 describes Christian hope as “an anchor for the soul.” Trials and tribulations will shake us, but we are certain that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). The gospel convinces us that, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will also with him graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32).

You may say, "I’m a Christian, but I do not have this hope you describe." It may be that your circumstances around family, work, relationship status, marriage, finances, or past trauma are consuming all your thinking. John Piper says this about how to build our hope in God. He says hope and faith overlap. Hope is faith in the future tense. The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). So hope, like faith, is strengthened by the word of God. Hope comes from reading his precious and great promises and looking to Christ who accomplishes them.

We can all feel hopeless at times. Often this is because our present situation is objectively bad. We forget that no matter what we are going through, our future and the big picture for all Christians is objectively good. We can learn to actively set our minds on these things: We will meet Christ. Our bodies will be resurrected. We will enjoy the presence of God forever! This is hope for Christians. We live in a world of suffering, isolation, and confusion. The world needs the hope of the gospel for relief, reconciliation, and meaning.

Second, Paul Speaks of The Kingdom of God and Jesus (Acts 28:23-24)

According to Acts 28:21-22, the Jews of Rome have not heard any bad report about Paul, but they have heard negative things about the Christian movement. They want to hear more. Acts 28:23 summarizes Paul’s teaching: “From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” Then, Acts 28:24 tells us the result: Some believed; others did not.

Paul testified to the kingdom of God. In both the gospels and Acts, the phrase “The Kingdom of God” summarizes the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. This expression appears 31 times in the Gospel of Luke. In his ministry, Jesus was preaching the good news of the kingdom of God.

The book of Acts begins with Jesus teaching about the kingdom of God in Acts 1:3. The very last verse of Acts, Acts 28:30, summarizes Paul's teaching this way. Paul was “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” The coming of the kingdom of God is the good news, and it is the message of the Bible.

This is how the message of the Bible can be seen through the lens of the kingdom of God. I will look at the Old Testament’s anticipation, the coming of Jesus, and now the experience of the kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The first two chapters of the Bible offer us a beautiful picture of paradise and living in harmony with God and one another. This is what we want. Following the first sin, chaos and hostility follow. This is our world. The Old Testament sets up an expectation for a cure, a restoration, a redemption, salvation by which the world is made right. God’s reign will be manifested in such a way that all the consequences of sins will be overturned. The Bible connects this salvation with the coming of a Messiah.

When Jesus comes, he announces that the Kingdom of God has come near. He demonstrates the reign of God through his ministry. He casts out demons, he heals the sick, he calms a storm. Most importantly, he shows the arrival of the kingdom by his death, burial, and resurrection. He shows that God’s reign extends even to death. God has defeated the consequence of sins. Though the wage of sin is death, God’s reign is such that he raised Christ from the dead so he can forgive those who trust in Christ.

Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, particularly of being a descendent of King David who would rule forever. Following Jesus’ ascension, we experience the reign of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit regenerates us so that we are part of the new creation. The Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are children of God. The Spirit gives us peace knowing that our sins are forgiven. The Spirit teaches us and guides us so that the law of God is no longer a burden but a delight. The Spirit convicts us of sin so that we confess our sins and enjoy deeper intimacy with the Lord. The Spirit gives us humility to fix broken relationships with those we have wronged. The Spirit is a missionary Spirit who moves us to proclaim the work of God in our life and the joy, hope, love, and peace that result from Christ’s rule and the forgiveness of sins.

Application

This line of reasoning and appealing to the Old Testament is appropriate when talking with a Jewish person. Acts shows that when Paul proclaims the kingdom of God to those without Biblical knowledge, he appeals to their idols. We saw this in Acts 14, 17, and 19. We saw that we all have idols in our lives. We saw the categories of control, power, approval, and comfort. We saw that we could show that Jesus satisfies our hearts better than these idols.

This is an illustration with the idol of power with the apostle Peter. Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. At one point in his ministry, Jesus asks the disciples who they say that he is. Peter is quick to speak up and say, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).

Following this exchange, Jesus lets his disciples know that he will die and be raised from the grave. We read that Peter rebuked Jesus and said, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” It appears that Peter’s view of the Messiah was different than Jesus’ view of the Messiah.

Peter's view of salvation included an immediate liberation from the Roman oppression (Luke 24:21). Peter was hoping for a savior who would use power to make his life easier, rather than one who would be crucified. We also see that Peter turns from the idols of power and comfort. Peter writes later in life, in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Peter was pursuing comfort through power, but in Christ he experienced a new kind of comfort so that he could boldly preach Christ and get persecuted for it. Following a beating, Peter was among those who were “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41). Peter’s hope in power changed to hope in God.

Depending on who we talk to and what people place their hope in, there are different approaches to show that the kingdom of God revealed in Jesus is the best news for all and what satisfies best.

Third, The Christian Message is for the Whole World (Acts 28:26-31)

We have seen this third theme in Acts over and over. Jesus is for all people. When Paul saw that some of his hearers disbelieved and were disagreeing among themselves, he quoted Isaiah 6:9. This verse foresees that some would hear but not understand. Paul concludes that he must take his message elsewhere, to the Gentiles.

Application

In Acts, all kinds of people hear the gospel and believe. It shows Hebrew Jews, Greek-speaking Jews, religious leaders, a lame beggar, an Ethiopian eunuch, and Gentiles are all part of God's church. The reason we can extend the good news is that salvation and the forgiveness of sin is by faith. This means that nothing in our past can be held against us once we have faith. This means that if you can hear my voice and are not a Christian, I invite you, not based on your works but Christ’s work, to believe in Jesus and receive the forgiveness of sins.

The Christian movement started with Jesus. He had his twelve and other disciples. Then the movement expanded. Today, it has affected the world more than any other movement in history. The diversity in this room today shows that the Gentiles have now indeed heard and believed.

Conclusion

We have finished the book of Acts. It is the history of the early Christian church. It has been a great manual for discipleship, church planting, evangelism, and apologetics. It is all this through an exciting narrative. Acts teaches us who we are as God's people and how we can live for him. We have covered so many aspects of Christian living. It has been so clear throughout that God has saved us for a purpose. We are now part of God's people, the church. We live on mission for him in the context of the church. When the church struggles, God assures us that his global church will continue to expand until the second coming of Christ. Acts teaches the centrality of the gospel. This good news is about God's saving reign.

Acts was the beginning of the spreading of Christianity. It has continued to spread for 2,000 years. Here we are now as a continuation of what God began to do through his Spirit in the church. Our task remains simple. We will continue to practice the simple church ministries outlined in Acts 2:39-47. We will remain devoted to the apostles' teachings, prayer, the sacraments, and the fellowship. We will care deeply and practically for each other. Pray for each other. Have meals together. We want to participate in partnerships with others to establish new churches.