The Book Of ActsSample

The Growth of the Kingdom in Rome: Acts 21:17–28:31

Finally, the last major portion of Luke’s narrative concentrates on gospel witness in Rome in Acts 21:17-28:31. 

This section roughly divides into four large sections: Paul’s Final witness in Jerusalem in Acts 21:17- 23:11; Paul’s imprisonment in chapter 23:12-26:32; his difficult journey to Rome in chapter 27:1-28:14; and finally, his witness in Rome in chapter 28:15-31.

As we have come to expect, these chapters include the familiar pattern of internal growth and tension. We see several evidences of internal growth, including things like:

• The joy Jewish believers in Jerusalem felt when they heard that many Gentiles were coming to the faith in Acts chapter 21; and
• The willingness of Paul and others to suffer and even to die to spread the gospel in Acts chapter 22.

But we also see that this internal growth was accompanied by tension, such as:

• The rumor that Paul was teaching Jewish believers to abandon their traditions in Acts chapter 21; and
• The consequent tension his presence caused in the church in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 21. 

We also find the pattern of external growth and opposition. Luke recorded that the church made great strides in external growth during this period. For example:

• Paul was able to present the gospel to many high-ranking officials in Acts chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 28; and
• He preached without hindrance in Rome in Acts chapter 28.

But Luke also pointed out that strong opposition accompanied this growth, including:

• Paul’s arrest and four-year imprisonment by the Roman government in Acts chapter 24; and
• Paul’s imprisonment in Rome in Acts chapter 28.

Each major section of Acts proves that the faithful witnesses of the gospel had not failed. The Holy Spirit empowered the church to take the gospel from Jerusalem to the very capital of the Roman Empire. Despite the internal and external troubles that the church endured, the unhindered gospel brought the church to spiritual maturity and numerical expansion as it spread the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. 

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