The Continuing Witness

MEMORY VERSE: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also.” —Romans 1:14,15

ACTS 28:23-31

PAUL had long wanted to visit the brethren in Rome (Rom. 1: 11-13), and now he was there. The brethren in Rome heard that Paul had landed in Italy and was on the way to Rome, traveling over the Appian way, and they went out as far as a place called “The three taverns” to meet him. When Paul saw them “he thanked God, and took courage.” (Acts 28:1) Paul had had a long journey, and a difficult one, and all the way in the custody of Roman soldiers, having been made a prisoner when rescued from the mob of Jews in Jerusalem who sought to kill him. How encouraging, indeed, it must have been to have the brethren come out from Rome to meet him!

Paul could previously have been released as a prisoner had he not appealed his case to Caesar. But he knew that by doing this he would be taken to Rome, and his Jewish enemies would not be able to harm him on the way. So far as the Roman authorities were concerned, Paul was there to be tried in Caesar’s court. But to Paul this was incidental. His real mission was to preach the Gospel. As our memory verse indicates, Paul felt an obligation to preach the Gospel at Rome, and was eager to do that to the fullest extent possible.

It is doubtful that Paul realized, when he wrote his epistle to the brethren in Rome, that he would be taken there as a prisoner. However, Paul had not been convicted of any crime, and he was treated very favorably, being permitted to live in his own hired house for two years, but doubtless under the watchful eye of a Roman guard. This degree of liberty as a prisoner enabled him to continue bearing witness to the Gospel.

In most places visited by Paul during his various journeys, he first went to the synagogues and witnessed to the Jewish people. He could not do this in Rome, but he sent word to the Jews to visit him, and many of them did. A special day was appointed for this, and to the Jews assembled in his lodgings Paul “expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.”

Some of the Jews believed the Gospel of Christ which Paul preached to them, and some did not. “And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed,” but not until Paul had quoted from the Old Testament to show why many of them had rejected the message. He quoted from Isaiah, saying, “Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”—Acts 28:26,27; Isa. 6:9,10

Paul then explained that the Gospel was being sent to the Gentiles, which meant that no longer did the Jews have the exclusive opportunity of hearing and believing this glorious message. After this the Jews departed “and had great reasonings among themselves.”

Paul’s quotation from Isaiah, indicating that there would be those whose ears of understanding would be closed, is revealing, in that the reason for it was that “the heart of this people is waxed gross.” There must be a right heart condition in order to understand and appreciate the Gospel of Christ. The “salvation” that is offered by the Gospel during the present age is that “great salvation,” which includes the opportunity of living and reigning with Christ a thousand years. There will later be the opportunity of the general salvation, and we believe that many Jews and Gentiles who disbelieved in this present Gospel Age will then believe and receive everlasting life on earth as humans.

And Paul did witness to many Gentiles while a prisoner in Rome. Writing to the brethren at Philippi from Rome, Paul said, “I want you to know, my brothers, that what has happened to me, has, in effect, turned out to the advantage of the Gospel. For, first of all, my imprisonment means a personal witness for Christ before the palace guards, not to mention others who come and go.”—Phil. 1:12,13; Phillips

It is clear that Paul let his light shine while in prison. Thus he becomes a good example for all the Lord’s people. If we wait until all the circumstances for witnessing are favorable, it is likely that we will do little to make known the glad tidings of the kingdom. Paul rose above his circumstances and continued to hold forth the Word of life to whoever would listen.

QUESTIONS

To whom did Paul first witness at Rome?

What special salvation is offered to believers in the present age?

What salvation will be available for mankind during the next age?

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