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Last time. Paul reached Rome, and he “was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him” (28:16). His own people first. “And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together” (28:17). Paul was Jewish. In Rome he went to his own people first. Nothing against them. “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans” (28:17). Customs are ways of living handed down from parents and grandparents. No cause. The Romans examined Paul and found “no cause for putting me to death” (28:18). Paul appealed to Caesar, “not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation” (28:19). He did not come to Rome to blame his people. The chain. “For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (28:20). Part of this is our memory verse. The hope of Israel. For hundreds of years Israel waited for the Savior God promised. Paul knew the Savior had come. He is Jesus, who died and rose from the dead. Paul wore a chain because he kept saying this. A fair answer. No letters had come about Paul. The leaders said, “But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere” (28:22). A sect is a group with its own teaching. What we learn. Paul invited his own people to hear about Jesus. When people speak against Jesus, you can still share the hope you have.
A long day. “So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging” (28:23). His lodging was the place where he was staying. What Paul taught. He “explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God” (28:23). The kingdom of God means God ruling as King. Jesus is the King God promised. From the Scriptures. Paul was “persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening” (28:23). The Law of Moses means the first five books of the Bible. The Prophets wrote God’s messages later. Paul showed that they told about Jesus. Two answers. “And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved” (28:24). Persuaded means they were convinced it was true. The same message on the same day brought two different answers. Paul’s part. Paul could explain, but he could not make anyone believe. Each person had to answer for himself. God’s part. Only God can open a heart. That is why we pray for people when we tell them about Jesus. What we learn. When you tell a friend about Jesus, some friends may believe and some may not. Keep telling, and keep praying. Your job is to tell the truth; changing hearts is God’s work.
Before they left. “So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word” (28:25). God speaking. “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers” (28:25). Paul said Isaiah’s words were the Holy Spirit speaking. Hearing but not hearing. “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive” (28:26). Perceive means to see and understand. People can hear God’s message with their ears and still close their hearts to it. Dull hearts. “For the hearts of this people have grown dull” (28:27). A dull heart is slow to respond, like a knife that will not cut. God was ready to heal. The warning ends with what would happen if they turned: “Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them” (28:27). God was ready to heal them. Sent to the Gentiles. “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” (28:28). Gentiles are people who are not Jewish. Not shut out. Paul was Jewish. He spoke to the Jewish leaders first, and “some were persuaded” (28:24). God’s salvation is for Jewish people and for Gentiles alike. What we learn. Keep your heart soft toward God. When you hear His Word, do not just hear it. Believe it and obey it.
Two whole years. “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house” (28:30). Paul was still a prisoner, most likely with a soldier still guarding him (28:16). An open door. He “received all who came to him” (28:30). Anyone could come: Jews and Gentiles, friends and strangers. Preaching and teaching. He was “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ” (28:31). Preaching means telling the good news like an announcement. Teaching means explaining it so people understand. The Lord Jesus Christ. Lord means He is Master over all. Jesus is the name of the Savior who died and rose. Christ means the Anointed One, the King God promised. With all confidence. Paul taught “with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (28:31). Confidence here means bold and unafraid. A chain could hold Paul, but it could not stop the message. Where Acts ends. The book of Acts ends here, with Paul still teaching. Some of Paul’s later letters suggest that he most likely kept serving Jesus after this. A picture. Many Christians see the way Acts ends as a picture of the church today: the good news keeps going, and every believer has a part in telling it. What we learn. You do not need a perfect place to serve Jesus. Paul served Him in a rented house as a prisoner. Open your door, welcome people, and tell them about Jesus.
A chain on Paul. Paul wore a chain in Rome because he preached that Jesus is the hope of Israel. But there is a worse chain than iron.
The chain of sin. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). A slave cannot set himself free.
Everyone. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The cost. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Wages are what a worker earns.
We cannot break it. Being good, trying harder or going to church cannot break the chain of sin.
God’s love. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The cross. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Jesus took the punishment we deserved.
Risen. “He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). This is the hope Paul preached in Rome.
Free indeed. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
A gift. “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). You cannot earn a gift. You receive it by faith.
Your answer. In Rome some believed and some did not. Every person must answer for himself. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus today.
Paul said these words to the Jewish leaders in Rome while he wore a chain. “The hope of Israel” means the hope God gave His people long ago: that He would send the Savior He promised. Paul knew that Savior had come. He is Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. “I am bound with this chain” means Paul was a prisoner because he kept telling people about Jesus. Paul did not hide his chain. He told the leaders exactly why he wore it. The Romans had found that Paul had done nothing wrong, so the chain was not for a crime. It was for Jesus. The hope Paul had is for you too. Everyone who trusts Jesus is forgiven and will live with Him forever. This week, say the verse every day. When telling others about Jesus feels hard, remember Paul in Rome. Jesus is worth it.
Match each piece of this story with what it meant! 🎯
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📚 The Hope of Israel 📚 Preaching the Kingdom of God