In Acts 28, Paul survives a snake bite, meets believers already in Rome, and marches into the imperial city in chains–but on mission. Here, the narrative of the book of Acts closes with Paul preaching the kingdom of God boldly in the center of Roman power and authority. What happened to his trial? Where did he go after his release? How did his journey end? In this sermon, I conclude our verse-by-verse study of this remarkable book, do my best to trace Paul’s “4th Missionary Journey,” and share the book’s anything-but-anticlimactic ending and encouragement to all believers.
Big Idea: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own.
- Hospitable Barbarians
- The Hope of Israel
- Chained Guards
- The 4th Missionary Journey
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of Christian hospitality.
- How the work of the Holy Spirit outpaced Paul.
- The population and power of Rome when Paul entered the city.
- How the kingdom of God subverted Roman authority and eventually transformed the empire.
- A recounting of Paul’s final journey and death by execution.
- The anything-but-anticlimactic ending of the book of Acts.