Page 137 - Acts Student Textbook

In one sense Paul's ministry to the Jewish leaders in Rome is a microcosm of Paul's ministry. He first
shared with the Jews. He shared Jesus' fulfillment of OT Scriptures. Some believed, but most did not.
This too, was predicted in the OT (cf. Isa. 6:9-10).

What warning did Paul give to those who rejected the message? (28:25-29)

Since some had rejected the truth, however, Paul had a final admonition. He quoted to them Isaiah
6:9, 10, saying that the people would hear and not understand, see and not perceive, because their
hearts had grown dull. They closed their eyes lest they see and hear, understand and be converted
(see Matt. 13:14f and Jesus’ comments there). Here Pratte makes an important observation saying,
“the main reason people do not accept the gospel, when they hear it, is because of the condition of
their own hearts. It is not because the gospel is false nor because it cannot be understood, nor
because there is a lack of convincing proof, nor is it usually because the teachers are inadequate, nor
is it, as some claim, because God chose certain people unconditionally from eternity to be saved, and
those who reject the gospel are simply not among those who were predestined to be saved. The
passage says people reject the truth because they do not want the truth. They have some ulterior
motive, prejudice, desire for pleasure, an unwillingness to sacrifice, or some other hindrance that
keeps them from believing. People who do not believe, of course, will generally not admit that the
problem lies within them. They will claim the evidence is weak or the presentation was poor or there
is sin in the church, etc. But the real root reason people generally do not obey is because of the
condition of their own hearts.”
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Paul concluded by saying that he would teach the Gentiles since the Jews had their opportunity and
many were not accepting it. In every city Paul would first give the Jews their chance to hear the truth,
then he would teach the Gentiles. As the Jews left, there was much dispute among them (KJV; cf.
v25). Division often follows gospel preaching. Note, however, that the people who reject the truth
are to blame for this. Those who accept the truth are not responsible for the sin of division.

How does Luke conclude his fantastic Spirit inspired work? (28:30, 31)

The story concludes leaving Paul still a prisoner. Nothing is told of the final outcome of his arrest
(though statements in his later epistles imply he may have been released only to be arrested again
later). His treatment remained good in that he was allowed to live in a rented house for two years,
free to receive all visitors who came to him. He therefore used the opportunity to continue preaching
and teaching without being forbidden to do so. Here Uttly comments that, “The early, post-apostolic
church made a distinction between these two ways of presenting truth ("preaching. . .teaching"-
28:31). The body of sermons recorded in Acts (Peter, Stephen, Paul) is called the Kerygma
(proclamation, cf. 20:25; 28:31; Rom. 10:8; Gal. 2:2; 1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Tim. 4:2), while the teaching of
Jesus interpreted in the Epistles is called the Didache (teaching, cf. 2:42; 5:28; 13:12; Rom. 16:17; 1
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Cor. 14:20).” Surely it was a great blessing to Paul and to the message of the gospel that he was
given this freedom to teach. Many people no doubt heard the truth who otherwise might never have
heard it. During this time, Paul wrote a number of his epistles, including Ephesians, Colossians,
Philippians, and Philemon. These give some understanding of what happened to him during this
time. However, the record in the book of Acts itself concludes at this point.

Luke, successfully archived his purposes of writing the book of Acts: Pastorally, Evangelistically,
Apologetically, Historically, Scholarly, Theologically, Socially, Geographically, and Economically.

97 Pratte, (p. 392).
98 Uttly, (28:31).
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