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The first 12 chapters of the book of Acts center around Peter,
Jerusalem and the Jews whereas the last 16 chapters center around Paul
and his preaching tours to the Gentiles from the city of Antioch. The
book closes with Paul returning to Jerusalem with benevolence for the
poor saints only to be nearly killed by opposition. He is projected
into a series of trials in which he ably defends the gospel. He was
never proven guilty of any crime. However, to avoid the plot of the
Jews to kill him, Paul is forced to appeal to Caesar. His final hearing
before Agrippa is most noteworthy. Here was a man of the Herod-line of
rulers, the wicked enemies of Christianity. However, he had grown up
among predecessor authority over Jews and was conversant with and
knowledgeable of then recent events that had taken place in Jerusalem,
and thus after hearing Pauls defense in chap. 26, finds no fault in
him! He concluded by saying that Paul had done nothing worthy of bonds
or imprisonment and that he might have been set at liberty had he not
appealed to Caesar, vs. 31,32. That is powerful testimony to the
accuracy and validity of events upon which we place our faith. Chapters
27 and 28 are the account of Pauls voyage to Rome and closes without
Luke telling us about the trial of trials before Caesar! Have you ever
wondered about what happened at the trial and to Paul? Evidently
God had given all He wanted us to know, including the heroic
faithfulness to duty of a man of God in the face of extreme adversity.
Thus in His providence, He saw to it that it was at this point that Luke
wrote the book. He couldn't write more because there was nothing else
to tell. This seems a logical explanation as to why it ends there.
During his second journey, Paul wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians. On his
third journey, he wrote
1 & 2 Corinthians, Romans, and Galatians. We notice in Acts 28:30 that
Paul dwelt two years in his own house. It was during this time that he
wrote four more books bearing his name: Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians, and Philemon. These books are known as the prison
epistles. By referring to Eph. 3:1, Col. 1:24; 4:3, 18 and Philemon 1,
you will notice he refers to his bonds. Following is a summation of the
theme of each book.
Ephesians shows the place of the church in Gods plan. In chapter 1
the church is the body; in chapter 2 the church is the alive and
reconciled; in chapter 3 the church is the wisdom of God; in chapter 4
we have the unity of the church; in chapter 5 the love Christ has for
the church; and in chapter 6 the church is the army of God.
Colossians shows the place of Christ in Gods plan. Chapter 1 shows
his relationship to salvation, to God, to creation and to the church.
Chapter 2 shows the greatness of the gospel, the words of Christ. It
is compared to Judaism, angel worship and asceticism. Chapters 3 and 4
show how that word directs the life of a Christian to sustain
relationship to Christ.
Philippians shows Pauls gratitude and joy. It is a book of rejoicing
and joy. He is happy about their sharing to help in his financial
needs, 4:15. He is even happy that he is in prison, because it has
encouraged others to be more bold. The Romans encouraged Paul, he
encouraged them, thus it is occasion for rejoicing when we can mutually
edify one another.
Philemon is a letter of recommendation for Onesimus, a run-away slave
that Paul met and converted while in prison. Paul knew his owner,
Philemon, and encouraged him to receive Onesimus back as one above a
servant, a brother.
Acts 29 - Paul Out of Jail
By carefully looking at the remaining books written by Paul, we can
establish that he gained freedom and took another journey. It was
generally accepted among early Christians for about two hundred years
that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. We cannot affirm this positively
since I Paul is not in the letter, but the nature of the writing se=
ems to confirm it was Paul. With this in mind, let us look at Hebrews
13:23-24: Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with
whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the
rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. This
shows that Paul was in Italy when he wrote the book and the only time he
was there was when he was in prison. It was either immediately before
he was set free or before he left after being set free, that he wrote
the Hebrews. But notice that Paul is getting ready to leave and
expecting to see them. This would definitely establish that Paul gained
freedom from the first imprisonment. Hebrews was intended to encourage
wavering immature Jewish Christians to endure persecution and remain
faithful to Christ. Because they were tempted to go back into Judaism,
he repeatedly shows the superiority of Christ over the Law of Moses.
Zerrs comments on 2 Tim. 4:16 concur with Pauls release. It may be
learned by history as well as by Acts 28:30, that when Paul arrived in
Rome from Caesarea, he was turned over to the Roman authorities who
placed him in chains, but permitted him to live in a house which he
rented. After this two-year period he was released, and traveled out
among the churches a short while, then came back to Rome and was again
arrested and brought before the court and made his own defense (called
his first answer in our verse).
The only remaining books attributed to Paul are the letters to Timothy
and Titus. Let us notice doctrine. By turning to Acts 19:22, you will notice just the reverse.
The only time during the missionary journeys that they were together at
Ephesus, Paul sent Timothy into Macedonia while he stayed. In 1 Tim.
1:3 Paul went while Timothy stayed, therefore this had to have been
written after those journeys.
In Titus 1:5 we find that Paul left Titus at Crete to set in order the
things that were wanting. The only other time Paul was at Crete he was
a prisoner on the way to Rome. Apparently when Paul was freed, he came
by Crete and left Titus, came on up by Ephesus and left Timothy while he
went on up into Macedonia. It was from somewhere in that region that
Paul wrote 1 Timothy and Titus to encourage them in their work of
fighting false teachers and appointing elders. The prophecy that Paul
made in Acts 20:29-30 came true, therefore Timothy would have needed the
encouragement and instructions for elders as well as would have Titus.
From Titus 3:12 we learn that Paul had determined to winter at
Nicopolis, a city on the west coast of Achaia, near the heel of
Italy. Evidently Paul was captured again about this time and taken back
to Rome because in his second letter to Timothy he writes that his death
is at hand, 4:6. Therefore, I submit that 2 Timothy chapter four makes
a fitting conclusion to the book of Acts. This is the last book he
writes giving Timothy, over at Ephesus, a final exhortation to be
faithful to God, to preach the word, to fight false doctrine and to
rebuke error.
Departure for Paul was not a dreaded thing. He had written in
Philippians 1:23 about a desire to depart and be with Christ. The Lord
is about to escort him through the valley of the shadow of death because
he had fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith, 2
Tim. 4:7. In the midst of severe persecutions of Christians, and about
to be put to death, Paul could say, And the Lord shall deliver me from
every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom
be glory forever and ever. Amen (2 Tim. 4:18). This can be true for
all of us as well, come what may if we will keep the faith and labor for
a heavenly crown as did the beloved apostle Paul.
- - Lowell Kibler
