Acts 28:29 - Printer Friendly

Acts 28:29 is not found in the most reliable manuscripts. This verse may not be original, but it does not add anything significant to the passage and certainly does not challenge any theological truth found in the rest of the Bible. It copies the exact sentiment recorded in Acts 28:25.

Paul has wanted to go to Rome for years. Rome has had a thriving church at least since Priscilla and Aquila returned from their exile (Acts 18:2; Romans 16:3–4). Although Priscilla and Aquila are Jewish, it seems many in the Roman church are Gentiles (Romans 1:13). Shortly after Paul wrote his letter to the Romans he traveled to Jerusalem (Romans 15:25–26) where he was arrested and kept in custody in Caesarea Maritima for two years (Acts 21:33–34; 24:27). He finally appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:10–12) but had to survive a harrowing sea voyage before arriving (Acts 27).

When Paul reaches Rome, he is again placed under house arrest, this time in a private apartment. Some of the church members have seen him, but Luke focuses on his meeting with the Jewish leaders three days after Paul's arrival. The leaders have heard of this Jesus-worship, nothing good, and agree to meet with Paul to learn more. Despite Paul's thorough explanation of how Jesus fits with the Jewish Scriptures, only some of the Jews agree. Paul dismisses those who reject Jesus and vows to concentrate on reaching the Gentiles (Acts 28:15–28).

In Acts 28:17–29 Paul finally receives his heart's desire: to witness to the Jews in Rome. Rome is a strategic city and if the Jews there accept Jesus as their Messiah, they will legitimize Jesus-worship to the other Jews in the Empire. As in every city Paul visits, however, some accept Jesus and others don't. Paul becomes frustrated and redoubles his efforts to reach the Gentiles. He spends two years under house arrest but with the freedom to write and to speak with whomever chooses to come through his door.

Acts 28 records Paul's three-month stay on the island of Malta and two-year house arrest in Rome. On Malta, God empowers Paul to perform healing miracles which endear him to the locals. Once he reaches the shores of Italy, many other believers accompany him on his last leg to Rome. In Rome, he finds the Jews just as accepting of Jesus as elsewhere; some believe, but many don't. Paul reaffirms his mission to the Gentiles and spends his time preaching while under house arrest.

Acts 28 is the end of Luke's story of the witness of Jesus' story (Acts 1:8). After his wrongful imprisonment in Caesarea Maritima, Paul appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:1–12). He, Aristarchus, and Luke survived a raging winter storm before finally reaching Rome (Acts 27). Again under house arrest, Paul is able to share Jesus' offer of forgiveness with any who wish to visit. While there, he writes the letters Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. After two years, Paul is released; tradition says he takes one more evangelistic tour before being arrested and eventually martyred around AD 67.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''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.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.