Thursday September 27
The Victory of the Gospel
On a set day, the Jews came in large numbers to hear Paul’s presentation of the gospel (Acts 28:23).
Read Acts 28:24-31.
28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.
28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
What was Paul’s point in quoting Isaiah in this context?
Israel was in a Laodicean condition and many could not be saved. They were rich and increased with goods and knew not they were wretched, and miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Paul found others (Gentiles) who were open to the gospel and would repent of their sins. Jesus met with the same situation.
The Sanhedrin had rejected Christ’s message and was bent upon His death; therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations.
As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.
The people of Galilee were despised by the rabbis of Jerusalem as rude and unlearned, yet they presented a more favorable field for the Saviour’s work.
Christ is bringing into His church those who are open to the gospel truth. We thank Jesus for those leaders in the church who are faithful to the gospel message. Those who have closed their minds have hardened their hearts and are moving further and further away from the simple truth of the power of God's grace to save to the uttermost all who come to Christ.
The quotation from Isaiah 6:9, 10 describes what happens when people refuse to accept the divine message. Though some Jews believed, others didn’t, and so, because of this great dispute, the apostle had no choice but once again to turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46, 47; 18:6).
Paul first went to the Jews because they had been entrusted with the truth. So it is today. We too must first go to the church with the gospel message. Those who continue to reject the gospel we must leave joined to their idols and seek out those who have not yet heard of the power of God's love to transform their character. Those who continue to preach false gospels in the church will be separated from the work by the shaking that has begun. It is obvious who it is that refuses to accept the truth. They are moving further and further away from Bible truth.
The harvest field is white, let us pray God will raise up many leaders to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Paul had to wait two years to be tried by the emperor. Meanwhile, though restricted to his house-prison, he was still able to share the gospel without hindrance with those who came to him. The last scene of Acts is one that emphasizes the victory of the gospel, as no force, whether Jewish or Roman, had been able to stop its progress.
It is not clear why Luke finishes his book at this point, as there is evidence that, due to the weakness of the case against Paul, he was released from this imprisonment, went on another missionary journey, and was again taken to Rome and executed (2 Tim. 4:6-8). Perhaps, from the standpoint of Luke’s literary purpose, by having been preached even in distant Rome, the gospel had already reached “the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ).
“Paul’s patience and cheerfulness during his long and unjust imprisonment, his courage and faith, were a continual sermon. His spirit, so unlike the spirit of the world, bore witness that a power higher than that of earth was abiding with him. And by his example, Christians were impelled to greater energy as advocates of the cause from the public labors of which Paul had been withdrawn. In these ways were the apostle’s bonds influential, so that when his power and usefulness seemed cut off, and to all appearance he could do the least, then it was that he gathered sheaves for Christ in fields from which he seemed wholly excluded.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 464.
From the standpoint of the church’s mission, however, it could be said that the book of Acts—or the history of the spreading of the gospel—is not yet finished, and it is here that each one of us enters the picture. Many more exciting and dramatic chapters have been written throughout the centuries, sometimes with the blood of God’s faithful witnesses. Now it is our turn to add one more chapter, the last one (we hope!), and bring the mission Jesus left with the disciples to its full completion—“and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14).
Amen. And, here lies the truth that we need to pray about. Are we open to the reception of truth? When we find truth that cuts across the natural heart, will we repent and walk in the light? There are many in the church who need to be re-baptized, and will see this and accept God's grace. They will be part of the organized church and take the last message or warning and mercy to a world soon to perish. Let us be a part of that great movement to prepare a people to receive Jesus as His soon coming!
Imagine being the soldier chained to Paul. What do you think he saw in the man to whom he was so closely tied?
Was he like the Jews who saw nothing good in Paul, or did he see a reflection of Christ? Did he accept the gospel message or did he reject it and become a persecutor of Christians? He had the same opportunity we each have, to accept or reject the grace of God. What shall we do today?