20200517 The ending of the Acts

Bible Verses:

Acts 28:11-31 New International Version (NIV)

Paul’s Arrival at Rome

11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me,because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 29

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Footnotes:

Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

New International Version (NIV)

My Notes:

Today’s worship we discussed the ending in the Acts.

Why should it be ended like this? It’s because it wanted to stress the judgement can only be made by God. No one can judge the other, even the judiciary.

Then why should there be judiciary system?

As discussed in The Chocies of Judas , We are free to do whatever we wanted with understanding the rule of law.

We followed the law is because we understand why it’s set like this. The laws are for balancing everyone’s rights and responsibilities. So we all can live happily together as a community.

For example, I often saw people skipped the foot cleansing pond at the gate of the swimming pool. They used many ways to escape from that little pond.

I really doubted whether they know why there is a foot cleansing pond at the gate of the swimming pool.

I knew in some rural regions, that foot cleansing pond is the root of infecting skin disease because no one clean the pond.

Hence, the people from the rural regions are getting used to escape from that little pond. The consequences are all the people swam got infected.

At the end, I wanted to express with a photo from a series of photos that fit today’s topics – God’s Tears.

God’s Tears:

It’s also my favourite to shoot on the water drops on the petals.

Imagine that we are the anthocyanin living on the petals Again. Each of us is unique and God’s lessons is like the water drops on the petals. Each lesson is like a droplet. Every people has its own perception on the lessons, but each lessons involves not only one Person. The water drops will be vaporised when the sun shines. The total effect of the water drop is unique for the time and place. That’s what we called life.