Read: Acts 28:30-31
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (vv. 30-31)
There is a great line in the Walt Whitman poem “O Me! O Life!”: “The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? / Answer. / That you are here—that life exists and identity, / That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” In today’s passage, we catch the apostle Paul contributing his final verse. Having been converted on the road to Damascus, nothing would prevent him from finishing the race and fighting the good fight right to the bitter end.
Paul served God in dark times, fighting valiantly for the gospel under the vile reign of Emperor Nero. Nero was to the first century what Hitler was to the 20th century. A cruel man without a hint of virtue, he sent millions to horrible deaths. Both men were megalomaniacs who in the end took their own lives rather than face the justice they deserved. That Paul preached boldly during these dark times is testimony to his undaunted courage, and Paul preaching without hindrance is testimony to God’s providence.
I believe that God is asking us to write an Acts 29—to finish the work just as the great saints of the Bible and all through Christian history have done so valiantly! Our work is not finished. What will your verse be?
As you pray, ask the Lord Jesus to give you the faith and courage to serve him valiantly!
Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary where he served from 1995-2021. Tim continues to actively coach and encourage former students and pastors who seek help in their preaching life and he has become a certified public school substitute teacher so that he can continue investing in the lives of young people. He is married to Nancy and together they have three children and ten grandchildren.
