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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The Scriptorium

End of the Beginning

Acts ends, the ongoing work goes on.

Acts (22)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24.27

The video for lesson 22 concludes our series. You can view it by clicking here (scroll down to Lesson 22).

Read and meditate on Acts 28.17-31.
Luke’s story ends where it began – with Jesus and the Kingdom of God, and His faithful servants continuing the work He began to do. The ongoing work which began in Jerusalem is continuing in Rome, and in each of our Personal Mission Fields.

For reflection
1.  Paul called the Jewish leaders together because he wanted them to hear his case before he went before the Emperor. They had no clue about him or the charges against him, but they had heard about the “sect” of the Christians, and that it is spoken against everywhere. But they seemed interested. Do you think unbelievers in our day are interested in hearing about the Gospel? Why or why not?

2.  Paul took up his wonted tactic, reasoning from and expounding the Scriptures about Christ and His Kingdom. Should we be reluctant to invite our unbelieving friends, co-workers, or neighbors to join us in having a look into the Scriptures? Explain.

3.  The results were pretty much the same he encountered everywhere else, and his response was the same, too. He gave the Jews an opportunity to hear the Gospel. Now he would concentrate on the Gentiles. The goal of our witness is not to convert the lost but to explain the Good News. What’s the difference?

4.  Paul was a man under guard, but not the Gospel. His liberty may have been restrained, but not the Gospel. Rome could keep him under house arrest, and his opponents could scorn and deride him; but the Gospel continued, the Kingdom continued, the ongoing work of Christ continued, “with all boldness and without hindrance.” Is this work continuing in you?

5.  Our final lesson from Paul and the entire book of Acts: What Jesus began to do, Jesus continues to do, and Jesus will finish. May we be found striving together with Him until that great day. What’s the most important lesson you carry away from the book of Acts?

Summary
The ongoing work of Christ goes on. Scandals and plots can’t stop it. Persecution fuels it. Storms and shipwrecks are just open doors of opportunity. Foes may decry and deny the Good News, but the world is full of people who are looking for the hope that is in Jesus. Are we looking for them? Are you?

Closing Prayer
God has spoken in His holiness:
“I will rejoice;
I will divide Shechem
And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
Judah is My lawgiver.
Moab is My washpot;
Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me.”
Who will bring me to the strong city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless.
Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Psalm 60.6-12

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. This is the work of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. Read more about the implications of this work in our new book,
The Kingdom Turn (click here).

Please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Or, you can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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