Devotional - The End of Acts

I just finished reading Acts – the apostle Paul was shipwrecked at Malta and imprisoned at Rome for several years, waiting to appear before Caesar – the most powerful man in the world at the time. Paul – a former persecutor of God’s people, whom God converted at the right time (Galatians 1) in the same way that he created the world - by divine decree (2 Corinthians 4, Romans 4).

How does this apply to me, exactly?

1) God deserves the glory for Paul’s conversion and ministry from me. My response must be praising God for his actions.

2) Paul frequently, as in Colossians 2 and 3, uses his chains as a defense of his apostleship – for the sake of the faith of the people he wrote to – for their faith. Paul’s imprisonment, and the writings about it, therefore, are for increasing my faith.

3) Paul’s shipwreck, ministry, miracles, and imprisonment – and opportunities to preach the gospel – were by God’s divine decree. God said through Jeremiah, “Who has spoken and it came to pass unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?” (Lamentations 3:37, 38) And so is the spread of the gospel by divine decree – by the work of the Spirit, not some silly notion of human free will. God brings his children into his kingdom – and has done so through Paul. I should Praise God for how he has spread the gospel through the world.

4) Paul’s ministry is characterized by two activities – preaching about God’s kingdom and doing miracles. The response to those things is either acceptance of the gospel – of Jesus as King – or persecution. This should sound remarkably familiar – because it mirrors Jesus’ ministry. Paul, as an apostle, was showing off Jesus to the world in Jesus’ stead. These writings, then, to us, are a picture of Jesus. They’re a re-confirmation of Jesus’ work. Jesus has saved us who believe by his death and life – and the transmission of his message through the apostles, and thus through the Scriptures and those who preach them. This is all by his divine authority and decree. Thanks be to God!

5) Paul awaited his appearance before Caesar - the world's most powerful king - while in prison and proclaiming a different King - whose Kingdom was of a different realm - in which there is forgiveness for sins. The Kingdom we inherit is other worldly - thank God!