What does Acts 28:31 mean?
Paul is under house arrest in Rome, waiting for his case to be tried before Caesar's court. He is chained to a Roman guard and cannot leave his apartment. Ironically, this status as a prisoner means he has never been safer. The Jews are ignoring him. The Sanhedrin can't reach him. The Roman government thinks he practices Judaism, which is an authorized religion. He has no fear of robbers or hurricanes or assassination plots.In addition, although Paul can't leave, his visitors face no restriction in coming or going. He probably sees the people mentioned in Romans 16 frequently. He also sees Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21), Timothy (Philippians 1:1), Aristarchus, Justus, Epaphras, Luke, Demas—and even reconciles with Mark (Colossians 4:10–14). He dictates letters to the churches in Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae, as well as one to his old friend Philemon. In addition, the guards chained to him bring Jesus' message to Caesar's household (Philippians 4:22).
Most ironically, while imprisoned under the shadow of Caesar, Paul spreads the message about Jesus the King and the coming kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the reality that God is sovereign over all creation. As King, He reigns in His follower's hearts and gives or withdraws blessings from the people and creation, over which He has authority. The kingdom will come into full reality when God's followers dwell with Him in eternity.
Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace or Daniel in the lions' den (Daniel 3; 6), Paul knows God can keep him safe in the presence of his enemies (Psalm 23:5). After two years, when Paul's accusers apparently refuse to appear with their non-existent evidence of his crimes, he will be freed to take Jesus' offer of forgiveness on the road again.
Luke's account stops here, however. Luke doesn't record Paul's fourth missionary journey or his final arrest and imprisonment. Church historian Eusebius wrote that shortly after Paul dictated his second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:6–8), Nero had Paul beheaded. As a Roman citizen, he had the privilege of a swift and painless death.
At the point the book of Acts ends, however, Paul is spreading the gospel throughout Rome, his friends coming and going, and, possibly, Luke writing his book in a corner, asking questions about Paul's long ministry.
