I am not alone...

Brothers

(Acts 28:11-22, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, September 22, 2013)

[11] After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [12] Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. [13] And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. [14] There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. [15] And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. [16] And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.“There we found brothers.” Paul finally made it to Rome. On the way there, he and his companions found brothers in Christ. They spread the word of Paul's arrival to other Christians and many came to meet Paul and his traveling companions.

“Paul thanked God and took courage.” This is what our brothers in faith can do for us. They may not be able to remove the chains that men put on us, but they can lead our hearts to God in thanksgiving. They can help us to find the courage from the Lord to face another day.

Paul reached a destination of sorts, but it appears that the Lord has prepared more work for him. Paul is under house arrest, and he can receive visitors. Some of his first guests will be leaders of the Jews who do not believe that Jesus is the Christ.

[17] After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had 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. [18] When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. [19] But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. [20] For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”

When Paul meets with these leaders of the Jews in Rome, he calls them brothers as well. He refers to the Jews as a whole as “our people” and Israel as “my nation.” He is not trying to erect a wall against Jews who as yet will not bow the knee to Jesus. He is helping them with a bridge of hope. He looks to see many of them walk across that bridge that will lead them to Christ.

Paul does not rush to bring the message of Christ to Gentiles. He wants to speak to the Jews in Rome first about the best news that He could ever bring to them, news of the “hope of Israel.” We hope in what we have not yet received. Solid hope is built on secure promises. The certainty of promises has much to do with the one who made the promise. When God makes a promise to His people they have a very sure hope.

The Lord had prepared Israel for centuries with promises about the future, promises that they did not fully understand. They alone of all the people groups of the earth had a heritage of written oracles from God recorded for them in the books of Moses, the prophets, and the other books of the Scriptures like the Psalms.

They needed something more in order to be able to have greater definition and clarity concerning the kingdom of God. They needed Jesus. There is a clarity to the cross and resurrection of the Messiah that helps us to see what the plan of God really is.

In the beginning of the book of Acts, even the remaining disciples seemed confused about God's plans. They asked Jesus about when the kingdom would be restored to Israel. When He talked to them about the promise of the Father, they could only imagine the glory days of the past, the days of David, Solomon, and the little kingdom of Israel. They wanted to know when that kingdom, which had been lost to the Gentiles for many centuries, would be restored again.

Jesus had to tell His little band of brothers that they were misinformed about the hope of Israel. The hope of Israel had more to do with the glories of the future and not the recovery of the past. It had to do with the Holy Spirit who would be received in their souls and not immediately about the removal of suffering and annoyance outside of them. It had to do with the power of the cross of Christ being known even to the ends of the earth and not about restoring decency and religion to Palestine.

Paul could not explain all of this to the leading Jews of Rome in one day, but he did intend to get started on that important project soon. He began by taking the subject of his arrival in chains and quickly turning their attention to the hope of Israel. This hope was larger than most of the brothers seemed to understand. Through one man's sin, death had come to all. God's promise has always been the gift of a resurrection kingdom built on one man's righteousness.

[21] And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. [22] But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”Those leaders of the Jews who spoke with Paul also have men that they call “brothers.” These Jewish brothers have not heard any bad reports about the prisoner, Paul. On the other hand, his “sect” is spoken against “everywhere.” Those who are a part of it are not considered to be brothers by the Jews in Rome who reject it.

This is the first ministry opportunity for Paul in Rome. Paul has been sent here to proclaim what He knows about Jesus and the kingdom from both the Scriptures and His experience. He begins His proclamation with Jews who consider Christianity an unacceptable sect of Judaism.

We serve the same resurrection King that Paul served. The hope of Israel has become our hope. We now have brothers ready to encourage us all over the world. That would not be the case if God had not sent His messengers forth to speak to Jews and Gentiles everywhere.

The hope of Jesus which Paul proclaimed is just as certain today as it was back when Paul first brought the word to leading Jews in Rome. God has continued to build a band of brothers throughout the centuries who give all that they have for His service. Their hope is in the Lord. He will bring about the hope of the earth, a kingdom where righteousness will reign forever.

As we seek the progress of that kingdom, we are blessed in many, many ways by God with brothers who believe in Jesus. May we press on together in our calling of holiness with all of our brothers and sisters all the more as we see the day of Christ approaching.

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 31:19-24 – Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

Gospel Passage: Mark 12:41-44 – She has put in everything she had.

Sermon Text: Acts 28:11-22 – Paul thanked God when he was met by Christian brothers in Rome, and took courage to continue with His ministry, even in chains.

Sermon Point: We are blessed by one another in the body of Christ as we press on with the ministry that we have been given.