GROUP FELLOWSHIP NOTES:    SUMMER 2006   JUNE 27/29

‘THE SPREADING FLAME- How they brought the good news ....... to Rome’

(11) ACTS 28.11-31:    REACHING ROME!

INTRODUCTION:  BRINGING THE STORY TO AN END! Today we end ‘Acts’ story of how the Gospel good news was brought to Rome.  The story has traced Paul’s gospel-travels from city to city.  Now we ‘jump’ to the final big moment when he at last reaches Rome – but not as a free man but ‘an apostle in chains’. We left him departing Ephesus, after a long and fruitful ministry, for Jerusalem. In the Temple there, he becomes the centre of a riot and is arrested by the Romans.  After a frustrating two-year imprisonment, with two aborted ‘trials’, he appeals to have his case heard before Caesar in Rome – his right as a Roman citizen.  So began a long, perilous sea-voyage as a prisoner to the capital (involving a shipwreck and near drowning and a forced 3 month stay in Malta.)  All that is told in Acts 20-27.  We pick up the story in Acts 28 as the prisoner at last nears Rome. A short sea trip from Malta brings them to Sicily (Syracuse); from when they travel to Rhegium on the toe of Italy. A further 180 mile sail brings them to Puteoli in the bay of Naples, where they spend 7 days and Paul is allowed the whole week with Christians there, before the final journey along the Apian Way to the world capital of Rome!

“AND SO WE CAME TO ROME....”

1. THE ‘BOUND’ APOSTLE:  28.11-16

• Read about Paul’s long-standing longing to visit Rome as he tells of it in his letter to the Roman Christians written 3 years previously: Romans 1.8-13, 15.23 Why was he so eager to go there? What was the special calling on his life? (Acts 9.15) How did Paul describe himself? (Romans 11.13)
• What special opportunities and dangers would Rome furnish for Paul?  Would you have been as keen as he to visit it??
• Dreams and reality often differ! How different was the way Paul actually got to Rome from the way he had envisaged in Romans 1?  Do we learn anything from this?
• In his own house (28.16): what sort of picture do you get of Paul’s ‘imprisonment’ in Rome?  How would you describe it?  What sort of restrictions and freedoms did he experience?

2. THE ‘UNBOUND’ GOSPEL!  28.17-31

Luke’s account emphasises that although Paul is a prisoner, the Gospel Is not ‘bound’ in Rome.

• What opportunities were there in Rome for a prisoner-apostle? Every day (and night!) with a soldier in Rome: How do you think this provided Paul with a great opportunity? Read Philippians 1.12-14 (written during this imprisonment in Rome) to see how very effectively he took it.
• Two ‘days’ with the Jews in Rome (17-28) Talk about Paul’s attempts to reach the Jews at Rome. in the light of all his past rejections, what is so very moving about his persistence    in seeking to reach the Jews first?
• Why did he so persist? See Romans 9.1-5, 10.1
• What ‘line’ did Paul take with the Jews there? And what attitude did they adopt to Paul?
• How thorough was Paul’s presentation to them?  And what was the final outcome?
• Do Paul’s words in 25-28 have a final ‘ring’ to them?
• Two years unique ministry in Rome (30-31) The two years ‘house-arrest’ allowed for the stipulated period set for the prosecution to prepare their case (probably about 18 months) plus further time for the formalities attending his release (if he was released!)
• How did Paul use those 2 years?

3. THE FITTING ENDING.  (28.31 especially)

“The book of Acts comes to an end with a shout of triumph” (Dr William Barclay)

• Do you find it frustrating that Luke ends his story without telling us the outcome of Paul’s trial?  Why do you think he doesn’t tell us?
• Why do you think Barclay says that ‘Acts’ ends’ with a shout of triumph’?  What does he mean? Do you agree that Luke’s ending is a very fitting one? Why?
• What point is Luke making in the statement of 28.31? What telling point is he making in his final words?
• What good ‘propaganda’ is there in them for gospel preaching around the world?