Monday, February 21
Unhindered
Scripture: Leviticus 13-14, Acts 28
Acts 28:30–31 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Observation
These two verses are the triumphant conclusion to Luke’s two volume history (Luke-Acts). The story ends with Paul in Rome under house arrest. How is that triumphant?
First, the Lord had told Paul that he must appear before Caesar (Acts 27:24), and while Luke doesn’t record that event, it seems he intended us to assume it happened. We know from Philippians 1:12-14 that as a result of Paul’s imprisonment, the palace guard had heard the gospel. Many scholars believe that Paul had his appointment with Caesar and was released and went on to proclaim the gospel and plant churches as far as Spain. So the gospel was proclaimed at the highest levels of the empire—all in a few short years!
Second, Luke is clear that during his entire two year house arrest, Paul was free to have visitors and he “proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” The gospel was proclaimed not only to Caesar and his household, but to all of Rome through Paul’s imprisonment. Even though Paul was in chains, the gospel was not! (See 2 Timothy 2:8-10). In fact, Luke ends with the word “unhindered.”
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary says, “It was Luke’s desire to close his two-volume work on this victorious note: the apostolic proclamation of the kingdom of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, despite all difficulties and misunderstandings, had moved forward throughout the Jewish homeland and into the Roman Empire “without hindrance.””
Luke wanted us to know that nothing could stop God’s purposes and the advance of the gospel: not Paul’s arrest and imprisonment, not a storm or shipwreck, not Jewish animosity or Roman power. “The gospel is not chained.” (2 Timothy 2:9)
Application
These past few years have been very difficult for many pastors and Christian leaders, marked especially by political polarization and the pandemic, which has resulted in disheartening division in the church. In the past week or two, I’ve met with multiple pastors who are either resigning or feel like resigning. Many are weary and discouraged. A recent survey by Barna indicated that 38% of pastors have considered quitting recently. It’s been hard.
How we need the hope of this passage! The gospel is unhindered. God’s kingdom is moving forward despite our “chains”, our limitations and hardships. We need to keep this in view and proclaim the gospel “with all boldness and without hindrance.” Picture Paul in house arrest…undeterred…unhindered despite his chains. And let her fly!
Prayer: Lord, thank You for this encouraging word in the midst of discouraging circumstances. Help me to joyfully, freely, boldly declare the good news…unhindered.