Some Final Observations

Some Final Observations on the Acts of the Apostles.

1. What happened to Paul after Acts 28:31? This has been a source of endless speculation for many, and in some ways might be considered a distraction from how the Acts ends. However, it is a question on many minds. Common Christian tradition holds that Paul was released from this imprisonment (Acts 28:), then later rearrested, convicted, and beheaded in Rome circa AD 66-67, during the rage and reign of Emperor Nero. The idea that, due to his being a Roman citizen, he was beheaded rather than torched or thrown to the lions. Paul mentions his expected end in II Timothy 4:6–8. See Appendix U.

2. We are living in “Acts 29” – that is, the history of the work of the Lord through his churches did not stop when Luke wrote the last word of his treatise to Theophilus. The work continues to the present, until such time as the Lord says “no longer.”

3. The book of Acts records and demonstrates Jesus continuing to fulfill his promise, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). The story begins with 120 disciples in Jerusalem and ends with thousands of disciples across the entire Roman Empire. Three times alone in Acts disciples are numbered in the thousands, Acts 2:41; 4:4; 21:20. Despite opposition and persecution by Jews and Gentiles alike, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The word of God is not bound.

4. Though the book primarily focuses on two apostles, beginning with Peter and ending with Paul, there is “so great a cloud of witnesses” among the many thousands reached with the gospel just during this record of time considered by Luke. Some sixty or so believers are mentioned by name: Æneas, Agabus, Ananias (of Damascus), Andrew, Apollos, Aquilla, Aristarchus, Bartholomew, Cornelius, Crispus, Damaris, Dionysius the Areopagite, Erastus, Eunuch of Ethiopia, Eutychus, Gaius, James (brother of John), James (of Jerusalem), James the son of Alphæus, Jason, John, John Mark, Joseph called Barsabas, Joses surnamed Barnabas, Judas (sent with Silas), Judas the brother of James, Justus, Lucius of Cyrene, (Luke), Lydia, Manaen, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary mother of John Mark, Matthew, Matthias, Mnason of Cyprus, Nicanor, Nicolas, Parmenas, Paul/Saul, Peter, Philip (apostle), Philip (deacon/evangelist), Philippian Jailer, Priscilla, Prochorus, Publius, Rhoda, Secundus, Sergius Paulus, Silas, Simeon Niger, Simon Zelotes, Sopater of Berea, Stephen, Tabitha/Dorcas, Theophilus, Thomas, Timon, Timotheus, Trophimus, Tychicus. (I chose to include 3 men who were “almost named” – Luke, the Eunuch of Ethiopia, and the Philippian jailer.) “The Lord knoweth them that are his,” and he will not forget.

5. May believers be strengthened by and follow the example set by the believers in the times recorded by Luke. They left houses and lands, preached the gospel, founded churches, taught what Christ commanded, endured hardness, took up their crosses and followed in the steps of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Cf. Corinthians 11:1.

6. Many Bible commentators, rather than write commentaries, should write books on “why I don’t believe the Bible.”

7. Bible believers need to get back to describing the Bible text as primarily the work of the Holy Spirit rather than primarily the work of the human author.