Acts 61: Acts 28:17-31

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 For Thought and Discussion: Why do you think Luke wrote so little about the church in Rome? How did his choice of information in 28:17-31 serve his overall plan for Acts?
Acts does not give the history of individual churches. Rome was already evangelized.
Luke wanted to descrbe how the gospel reached Rome through an apostle through the work of the Spirit
 
Acts describes the foretold reception of the gospel by Gentiles (1:8) even as it describes the rejection of the Jews.
Paul is potrayed as a non-political figure, innocent of legal charges. 
  
For Thought and Discussion: Why do you think Luke ended Acts where he did? What does this tell you about the theme of Acts? 
 At the end of Acts the gospel is stll being proclaimed without hindrance. The task is unfinished.
 
For Thought and Discussion: 
a. Why was it so important to Luke to show how Paul related to the Jews? 
 Paul approached the Jews first. He was courteous. He made the effort to explain his legal situation.  
b. Does Paul’s treatment of the Jews have any relevance to us? If so, how? If not, why not? 
We don't have to relate to Jews as He did. But there may be times when we stop sharing the gospel (cf.  Mt 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs," )
 
(cf.  I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.)

  
 6. Why did Paul address the Jews when he got to Rome? (Optional: See Acts 13:46; Romans 1:16; 9:1-5; 10:1; 11:1-6,11-16.) 
Acts 13:46; "necessary"
Romans 1:16; To the Jew first, then to the Gentile 
9:1-5; They had all the advantages of God's revelation, but failed to respond to it as they should
10:1; He desired their salvation
11:1-6, Not all physical jews are the true Israel. God's promises to the Jews still stand.
11:11-16 The blessings of the salvation of Gentiles are meant to lead Jews to salvation.
 
7. What did he say to them first (see 28:17-20)? 
 That he was innocent of the charges against him and did not wish to implicate the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem (28:19)
He then said his improsonment was related to the identity of the Jewish Messiah ("the hope of Israel"). 
 
8. When they courteously agreed to hear him further, what did Paul go on to discuss with the Jews (see 28:23)? What specific methods did he use to appeal to them? 
 He testified "to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus
both freom the Law of Moses and the Prophets" i.e. he used the OT Scriptures
 
9. What was the point of the prophecy from Isaiah that Paul quoted (see 28:25-29)? 
 Is 6:6-9 in immediate context speaks of Isaiah's prophetic call. Jesus also uses it in Mt 13:14-15 to speak of the failure of the Jews as a race to receive him.
It was in God's plan to have the Gentiles saved after the rejection of the Jews. 
 
For Thought and Discussion: 
 The quotation of Isaiah in 28:25-29 (question 9) has puzzled many people. Did God arbitrarily make the Jews unable to understand and then hold them responsible? Or, did He decree that they would get what they were asking for? In what way were the Jews responsible for their blindness and deafness to the gospel (see 28:26-27)? Did they want to turn and be healed but God refused, or did they not want this and God gave them their way? (Optional: See Romans 9:1–11:32.) 
This is approached to the Biblical idea of compatibilism -that God is sovereign over our choices that holds us morally accountable for them. (cf Gen 45:5-8, 50:20; Lk 22:22; Ac 2:23, 4:27-28)
God determines human choices (Prv 16:9, 21:1; Ez 6:22, Ro 9:16-19) 
Yet we are asked to choose (Dt 30:19, Jos 24:15, Mt 23:37) 
 
 
10. How did Paul spend his time awaiting trial (see 28:30-31)? 
  • Welcoming all who came to him, 
  • proclaiming the kingdom of God 
  • teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
it was during his Roman imprisonment that he wrote the letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. The time after Paul’s release from his first imprisonment (mid-60s) would be when he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. He probably wrote his last letter, 2 Timothy, during his second imprisonment
 
11. What good examples does Paul set for all Christians in 28:17-31? 12. What aspect of 27:1–28:31 would you like to apply to your own life? 
Courtesy
Defense
Zeal
Discernment
Faith 
 
 

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