Title: Roman Evangelism / Acts 28:16-31
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Text: Acts 28:16-31 Title: Roman Evangelism
Date: 1997. 10. 15. Location: Jugok Church
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Finally, Paul arrived in Rome, where he dreamed and prayed. Many times Paul wanted to go to Rome, but he could not, but now Paul came to Rome as a prisoner. What did Paul do in Rome, the world's greatest city, the center of the world? The reason people gather in the center of the world, the best city, is to make their dreams come true. However, the only reason Paul wanted to go to the best city in the world was because of the ‘Gospel’. Because of Jesus.
Ba arrived in Rome as a prisoner. When they heard the news that Paul was coming, the church members in Rome ran out from 60 km before arriving in Rome to welcome Paul. Paul goes to Rome to preach the gospel by relying on the Lord, but he is just at a loss. But when he meets the church members running to meet Paul, he gains strength, gets courage, and enters Rome with a bold heart.
1. Paul Apologizing to the Jews (16-22)
Although Paul's mission was centered on Gentiles, Paul's mission began with the Jews. Paul said that although he had been called to be a missionary to the Gentiles, he had always remembered his fellow Jews, and that he wanted them to be saved, even if he died. Therefore, Paul always preached the gospel to the ‘Jews’ wherever he went.
① Consideration for Paul (16)
When Paul arrived in Rome, he was not put in prison, but was set apart from one of his guards. Perhaps under the protection and supervision of a soldier, Paul was able to meet people freely. This kind of treatment was unheard of for a person who came to be tried by Caesar under the name of a sinner. Nevertheless, he gave Paul special treatment.
There may be several reasons for this. The positive report from the governor Festus, the positive report from the centurion Julius, who was in charge of Paul's escort, and the favorable feelings of the emperor's guardsman who heard about Paul.
However, the reason Paul had such consideration lies in God.
Proverbs 4:8 “Exalt him, and he will exalt you; if you embrace him, he will honor you.”
Paul's missionary journey was to exalt God and to exalt Jesus. The fact that Paul was imprisoned was also what happened while exaling God and preaching Jesus. Therefore, it is natural for Paul to be treated that way even though he was a prisoner.
Example) Even in the midst of all kinds of tribulation, Joseph did not give up his faith in God, but exalted the name of God and believed, and God made him the prime minister of Egypt in a foreign land.
ex) Daniel - Prime Minister of Babylon
James 4:10 “Humble before the Lord, and the Lord will exalt you”
1 Peter 5:6 “Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, for in due time he will exalt you.”
God always exalts the humble. Paul asserted his innocence and was humbled to the end without asserting his Roman citizenship, but God exalted the humble Paul.
People want to rise to high places. However, I hope that you will realize that there is only one God who exalts people, and that you will be exalted by exalting the Lord and being exalted by humility.
② Background of Paul's coming to Rome (17-19) - Self-praise
With such considerations, Paul first called the Jewish leaders and told them about the kindness he had brought to Rome.
(1) Never rejected the size of Israel or Judea.
Paul is explaining that as a Jew, he did not oppose his fellow Jews or oppose Jewish customs. First, I tried to clear up any misunderstanding.
(2) It was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans in Jerusalem.
Paul said that it was not that the Romans captured him that he was a sinner, but that he had been handed over to the Romans by his fellow Jews.
⑶ The Romans interrogated me and wanted to let me go, because there was nothing to kill me.
But the Romans (Governor Felix, Governor Festus, King Agrippa, etc.) tried to interrogate me to find out my guilt, but they could not find my guilt, so they tried to release me.
⑷ The Jews objected, so I reluctantly appealed to Caesar.
But the opposition of the Jews was so strong that they wanted to kill me, so I reluctantly appealed to Caesar and came to trial.
⑸ I am not trying to mourn my people.
I have come as a trial against the Jews, but I am not trying to accuse my people. Obviously, it started with the wrong accusations of the Jews and came to the emperor of Rome without guilt, but I am not trying to sue the Jews who accused me.
Through his defense, Paul makes it clear that he never came to accuse the Jews of his innocence and that he was not hostile to them. Then why did Paul come to Caesar? for the sake of the gospel
③ Why Paul came to Rome (20-22) - Evangelism
At the end of his argument, Paul is testifying of the gospel because he said he had invited you to tell us about the reason why he came to Rome. My bond is for the hope of Israel. This is what he testified before the council (23:6), before Belsh (24:15), and before Festus and King Agrippa (26:6).
Here, 'the hope of Israel' is the hope of the Messiah. It is the hope of the resurrection of the dead. Paul said that this hope was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, but it was not accepted by ordinary Jews who were waiting for a political and temporal Messiah. Because of this difference, Paul was bound in chains.
Paul testifies that the Messiah, the hope of Israel, is Jesus Christ, and that he was persecuted, imprisoned, and even came to Rome while witnessing the true hope of the Messiah.
When Paul said that he was bound because of “the hope of Israel,” he meant that he was bound because of that hope, the Messiah and Jesus. It means that he was bound because he lived for Jesus.
Today, we too must become believers who only look to Jesus Christ, who is our eternal hope.
1 Timothy 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the commandment of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope”
Colossians 1:27 “God might make them known how rich the glory of this mystery is among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
The hope of salvation, the hope of healing, and the hope of success are only in Jesus.
2. Paul's Evangelism (23-31)
Paul begins evangelism in earnest after his defense against the Jews. The Jewish leaders did not receive any letters from the Jews, but they knew that Paul was facing much opposition. And some of them were interested in Paul's Christianity and wanted to hear it. Therefore, Paul set aside a time and place to preach the gospel to them.
① Paul's testimony
⑴ Enthusiasm - From morning to evening
Paul came to Rome as he had hoped and prayed, and did his best to testify of the gospel. From morning to evening, he zealously preached the gospel to those who came to Paul.
It is for allegiance to the gospel that our hope is fulfilled.
If you pray to receive blessings and receive blessings, you must devote yourself fervently.
If you pray for your health and receive the blessings of health, you must be zealous and loyal.
If you prayed for an office and received it, you must obey more diligently.
But when it's done, it's over.
(2) Content
We must pay close attention to what Paul bore witness. Because this is the core of evangelism. But we often lose the core because of the little things. The core of Paul’s evangelism is ‘the kingdom of God’ and ‘the work of Jesus’.
However, as we focus more on happiness, health, and success, we lose the core, the truth. However, I want you to believe that the core of the gospel is the ‘Kingdom of God’ and ‘Jesus’.
Kingdom of God - There are worldly kingdoms in the world, and there is God's kingdom in heaven. The people of the world do not know that the kingdom of God exists. The kingdom of the world is a kingdom that will come and go, but the kingdom of God is an eternal kingdom. The core of the Christian gospel is the eternal kingdom of God. Faith on this earth permits the life of that country, and the measure of faith on that land determines the inheritance of that country. Because of the hope of that country, we pray every morning, praise the Lord, devote ourselves financially, and be faithful.
Therefore, first of all, I hope that you will have hope and confidence in the kingdom of God, gain victory in faith, and become evangelists.
The work of Jesus - Paul's only concern is Jesus. It is not a Christian organization, it is not a doctrine, it is not a denomination, it is said that only the cross of Jesus boasts. In the eyes of the world, he seems foolish, and the world says he is a saint, but we must testify that he is our Savior, life, and judge.
We must know that through this we can be saved from the punishment of death and receive eternal life.
Like Paul, I hope you will become a saint who boasts only Jesus and the cross.
② People's reactions
There were two reactions to Paul's gospel witness. There were those who believed and there were those who did not. In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe will be condemned.” You said that there are two responses to the gospel. Hearing the Gospel does not change everything. But we also have an obligation to inform you that that decision will have devastating consequences.
In particular, Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah as saying, “You hear, but you hear, but you do not understand, and you see, but you do not understand,” about the Jewish response to the gospel. The Jews were foolish people who did not understand the gospel and did not believe it. Therefore, Paul says, the gospel came to the Gentiles.
Even if there is no fruit, we hope that our hard work will bring glory and joy to God, and that new fruits will be granted, and we hope that you will strive to become saints who testify of the kingdom of God and Jesus.
③ Paul’s evangelism (30-31)
Paul stayed in Rome in custody for two years because his trial was postponed. Because he was in custody, he could not go anywhere, but he did not prohibit people from coming to him. Although he was a sinner who was not free, Paul worked hard to spread the gospel regardless of his situation.
During Paul's two years in Rome, he boldly preached the gospel to many people, and no one stopped Paul's witness of the gospel. The seeds of the gospel that were sown in this way brought about remarkable fruition in which Christianity was later recognized as the official religion of the Roman Empire through Constantine the Great. As Rome was evangelized, it became an opportunity for the gospel to spread throughout the world.
All these things are the result of not giving in to the world and bearing witness to the gospel boldly through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today, with the same spirit as Paul, we hope that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and bear the precious fruit of the gospel by witnessing only Jesus, the kingdom of God.