As Luke brings the book of Acts to a conclusion . . . . Actually it’s hard to say that the book really concluded, isn’t it? Certainly we find out that the shipwreck took place at Malta, we read of the miracles that took place there (there are probably still Christians on Malta who descended from those who first heard the Word from Paul!), and we learn that after wintering on the island Paul and the rest make it to Rome. Paul reached out to the Jews in Rome, just as he did in every city he visited. Some believed and some didn’t. The last sentence of the book is, “He lived there two whole years at his won expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”
And? What about the trial before Nero? Was he acquitted or convicted? What about Spain? Did Paul get to go? Was Luke preparing to write a third volume to Theophilus? Could there be a history of Paul’s voyage to Spain out there somewhere? Why end a book this way?
It doesn’t say, does it?
I believe that the way Acts ends is not an accident, nor a cliff hanger to prepare for a third volume of a trilogy. You see, I don’t think Acts ends.
Back in chapter 1 we read Jesus’ commission to His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The disciples set out on that task after they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, but the mission continued after they died. It still continues today.
We have received the Holy Spirit through Baptism and the Word of God. We are Jesus’ witnesses, speaking of what we have seen and heard, so that the message will go out to the ends of the earth. Indeed, when you think of where the message began being proclaimed we are at the ends of the earth! We are on the exact same mission that Peter, John, James, Stephen, Paul, and even Luke were on.
Unfortunately, the church in many places has become largely inward looking. It is time for us to recapture our heritage and be a church on the move – a missional church. We need to repent and turn away from our earthly agenda and seek Jesus’ agenda – proclaiming His salvation in Word and deed. His forgiveness is for us even now, and He gives us the power to seek His will.
It is time for us to reclaim our heritage of being people of the Word – like the apostles and Bereans – daily searching the scriptures, listening to God’s voice. It is time to be people of prayer – depending upon God’s power and the Spirit’s guidance as the early church did whenever it did its work. It is time for us to gather in worship around the Word and Sacraments and live in the power of God’s salvation. And it’s time for us to begin to love one another again, we are, after all, brothers and sisters in Christ.
The message of Jesus – crucified and risen – compels us, empowers us, and transforms us.
God, grant for Jesus’ sake, that we might live as Your people. Transform our hearts and minds. Shape us into the image of Your Son by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.
And? What about the trial before Nero? Was he acquitted or convicted? What about Spain? Did Paul get to go? Was Luke preparing to write a third volume to Theophilus? Could there be a history of Paul’s voyage to Spain out there somewhere? Why end a book this way?
It doesn’t say, does it?
I believe that the way Acts ends is not an accident, nor a cliff hanger to prepare for a third volume of a trilogy. You see, I don’t think Acts ends.
Back in chapter 1 we read Jesus’ commission to His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The disciples set out on that task after they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, but the mission continued after they died. It still continues today.
We have received the Holy Spirit through Baptism and the Word of God. We are Jesus’ witnesses, speaking of what we have seen and heard, so that the message will go out to the ends of the earth. Indeed, when you think of where the message began being proclaimed we are at the ends of the earth! We are on the exact same mission that Peter, John, James, Stephen, Paul, and even Luke were on.
Unfortunately, the church in many places has become largely inward looking. It is time for us to recapture our heritage and be a church on the move – a missional church. We need to repent and turn away from our earthly agenda and seek Jesus’ agenda – proclaiming His salvation in Word and deed. His forgiveness is for us even now, and He gives us the power to seek His will.
It is time for us to reclaim our heritage of being people of the Word – like the apostles and Bereans – daily searching the scriptures, listening to God’s voice. It is time to be people of prayer – depending upon God’s power and the Spirit’s guidance as the early church did whenever it did its work. It is time for us to gather in worship around the Word and Sacraments and live in the power of God’s salvation. And it’s time for us to begin to love one another again, we are, after all, brothers and sisters in Christ.
The message of Jesus – crucified and risen – compels us, empowers us, and transforms us.
God, grant for Jesus’ sake, that we might live as Your people. Transform our hearts and minds. Shape us into the image of Your Son by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.
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