FinishingWellTheBookofActs,part57|Acts 28|LonSolomon–SeniorTeachingPastor

It’snothowyoustartthatcounts–it’showyoufinish!

Acts 28endswithPaulinjailinRomefortwoyears–awaitingtrialbeforeEmperorNero.

WecanprettywellpiecetogethertheeventsthathappenedafterActs28basedon:#1–CommentsPaulmakesinhislastNewTestamentletters(1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus).#2–InformationwegetfromtwoearlyChurchFathers:Eusebius(350A.D.)andClementofRome(100A.D.).

Aftertwoyearsofwaiting,PaulfinallystoodtrialbeforeNeroandwasacquitted.

2 Timothy 4:6,“Atmyfirstdefense,theLordstoodbymysideandIwasdeliveredfromthelion’smouth.”

“Deliveredfromthelion’smouth”isnotreferringtothepracticeofthrowingChristianstothelionsintheColosseuminRome.

-In62A.D,theRomanEmpirehadnotstartedkillingChristiansyet.-In62A.D.,theColosseumhadnotbeenbuiltyet.Being“deliveredfromthelion’smouth”wasjustanexpressionforbeingsetfreebyNero.

AfterhisreleasebyNeroin62A.D.:#1–Paul,Timothy,andTituswenttoCrete

Titus 1:5,“ThereasonIleftyouinCretewassothatyoumightappointeldersineverytownasIdirectedyou.”

AfterhisreleasebyNeroin62A.D.:#2–PaulandTimothythenreturnedtoEphesus–wherePaulleftTimothyandcontinuedalone.

1 Timothy 1:3,“AsIurgedyouwhenIleftforMacedonia(Philippi),staythereinEphesusthatyoumayinstructcertainmennottoteachfalsedoctrinesanylonger.”

AfterhisreleasebyNeroin62A.D.:#3–PaulwenttoSpainbywayofPhilippi.

“PaulreachedthelimitoftheWest.”–ClementofRome,100A.D.

AfterhisreleasebyNeroin62A.D.:#4–NeroapprehendedPaulandPeter(64A.D.)andbroughtthemtoRome.

AfterhisreleasebyNeroin62A.D.:#5–In66A.D.,NerokilledPaulandPeterinRome.

Eusebius[EcclesiasticalHistory],“PaulisthereforesaidtohavebeenbeheadedinRomeontheOstianWay.”

“Petersufferedmartyrdomatthesametime...hewascrucifiedwithhisheaddownward,havingrequestedtosufferthisway.”-Eusebius

SOWHAT?

2 Timothy 4:6,“ForIamalreadybeingpouredoutasadrinkofferingandthetimeofmydeparturehascome.”

2 Timothy 4:7,“Ihavefoughtthegoodfight,Ihavefinishedtherace,Ihavekeptthefaith.”

-In34A.D.–IstartedtheracewellontheroadtoDamascus.-In66A.D.–byGod’sgrace,Iamfinishingtheracewell.

“PleasepraythatIfinishwellfortheLord.”

Nomatterwhatageweare–asafollowerofJesus–youneedtobethinkingaboutthe“finishline”aswell!

Suggestion#1–StayvitallyconnectedtothewrittenWordofGod.

Hebrews 4:12,“FortheWordofGodislivingandactiveandsharperthananytwo-edgedsword...andabletojudgethethoughtsandintentsofourhearts.”

ThereissupernaturalpowerinthewrittenWordofGod!

1st–Helpsuskeepourlifecleanandpurefromsin.

Psalm 119:9,“Howcanayoungpersonkeeptheirwaypure?BytakingheedaccordingtoYourWord.”

Psalm 119:11,“YourWordIhavehiddeninmyheart,thatImightnotsinagainstThee.”

2nd–Providesspiritualguidance.

Psalm 119:105,“YourWordisalamptomyfeetandalighttomypath.”

3rd–Warnsussowedon’tstepintotheenemy’sschemesandtraps.

Psalm 19:8,“ThecommandsoftheLordarepure,givinglighttotheeyes...bythemyourservantiswarned.”

Psalm 119:98,“Yourcommandmentsmakemewiserthanmyenemies.Ihavemoreinsightthanallmyteachers,becauseImeditateonYourstatutes.”

Thebelieverwhowantstofinishwellisthebelieverwho’sdeepintoGod’swrittenWord.

Suggestion#2–Don’tunderestimateyourevilheart.

“Thefault,dearBrutus,isnotinourstars,butinourselves”(JuliusCaesar,Acts1,scene2).

Jeremiah 17:9,“Theheartisdeceitfulaboveallthingsanddesperatelywicked.”

TheminuteyouandIbegintounderestimatetheevilthatlurksinourheartsistheminuteweopenourselvesuptodisaster.

Proverbs 15:11,“SheolandAbaddon(hell)lieopenbeforetheLord,howmuchmoretheheartsofmen!”

Psalm 26:2,“Examineme,OLord,andtryme;testmymindandmyheart.”

Psalm 139:23 – 24,“Searchme,OGod,andknowmyheart...andseeiftherebeanywickedwayinme.”

ThebelieverwhowantstofinishwellisthebelieverwhoasksGodeverydaytorevealtothemtheevilintheirhearts(“tosavemefrommyself!”).

Suggestion#3–Don’toverestimateyourself.

Romans 12:3,“Donotthinkmorehighlyofyourselfthanyouought,butusesoberjudgement(aboutyourself).”

Whenweinflateourimportance,webegintothinkthatweare“abovetherules,”whichisasureformulaforspiritualdisaster!

[Theirsuccess]“...createdalevelofarroganceatwhichtheyceasedfollowingrules...Theybegantoseeselvesasmastersoftheuniverse...Thatwasreallytheirundoing.”–StevenBerglas

“What’smissinginthesepeopleisdeepcommunityandreligiousactivity...Theironlyantidoteistogobepartofacommunity.Loseyouridentityinagroup.Whenyoudothat,youdon’ttakeadvantageofpeople,youdon’texploitpeople.Thehealthiestpeoplehavethiscommitment.”–StevenBerglas

Suggestion#4–Considertheconsequencesbeforehand.

Proverbs 22:3,“Awisemanseesdangercomingandgetsoutoftheway,butafooljustkeepsgoingandsuffersforit.”

Ultimately–it’sonlybyGod’sgraceandmercythatanyofusfinishwellasbelievers.

Suggestion#1–StayvitallyconnectedtothewrittenWordofGod.Suggestion#2–Don’tunderestimateyourevilheart.Suggestion#3–Don’toverestimateyourself.Suggestion#4–Considertheconsequencesbeforehand.