I recently gave a meditation on Acts 28:30-31 to the women of my church, Calvary Chapel Beaumont (California). Below is an adaptation of the message, “Bound for Hope.” Follow the link for a video of the message.
Throughout his ministry, Paul often found chains—but the chains didn’t bring despair. He considered them to be chains of hope that bound him to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples for Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Bound for hope, for the hope of the Messiah, Jesus, our Savior.
Strength, courage, and hope bolstered Paul in the middle of his physical, spiritual, and mental challenges. Challenges put it mildly – more like whirlwinds, tornadoes, and hurricanes, earthquakes with mountains falling on him.
What binds you today? Depression … sickness …debt … sin … busyness? Paul thought of his chains as an opening to share the hope of Israel, the hope of the Kingdom of God and our Savior.
Bound To His Mission
When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he lost his sight because he had seen the Light of the World. God sent Ananias to Paul. Ananias was a follower of Jesus (not Ananias the high priest that we met in Acts 23 and 24). Paul received his sight, but more importantly, he received the mission God had for him.
God told Ananias:
“…Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15b-16 NKJV, emphasis added]
And that’s what Paul did. He always went to the Jews first to proclaim the Good News. When they rejected him, he went to the Gentiles. He proclaimed the Gospel in synagogues, prisons, and streets. Paul preached to the Sanhedrin, governors, kings, prison guards, and many others.
This man of God focused on his mission: to point people to Jesus through proclaiming the Gospel and discipling believers.
Our mission is also to point people to Jesus. Does your mission bind you at all costs?
We see the obstacles in front of us. Rest assured, God will work through us to complete that mission.
Bound to Call
Chained to his guard (a new guard every six hours) Paul called for the Jewish leaders in Rome to come to the place where he was staying. When they assembled, Paul told them that he had done nothing that warranted his death. But because the Jews wanted his death, he appealed to Caesar. He assured them that he wasn’t accusing Israel of anything.
Paul told the Jews what he was bound for in Acts 28:20: “For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
They told him that they had not received any letters about him but wanted to hear more about his faith. They set a date, and many came to hear Paul proclaim the Gospel beginning with the law of Moses and the prophets and progressing to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
He proclaimed that salvation is available to both Jew and Gentile. Some believed. Others left in disbelief.
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” (Acts 28:30-31 NKJV)
Bound in Mission, Paul Was Bound to Receive all who came to hear about the Hope of Israel—Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God, Our Savior.
Bound to Receive Others
“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him,” (Acts 28:30 NKJV)
Although chained, Paul was free to be open and unhindered proclaiming the Gospel and discipling all who came to him. Proclaiming that Jesus is the Anointed One. The One that the law of Moses and the prophets spoke of, the One that they were hoping for.
Whether bound or traveling to visit others, Paul received all who came to him.
During these two years, he wrote to the Ephesians that he was an ambassador in chains and asked for prayer that he would speak boldly about the Lord Jesus.
Can you imagine the testimony this gave to all who came to hear him about the hope he offered?
How’s your testimony? People who don’t know Christ are watching you. How hard are you working for the Lord?
Some of those who had ministered with Paul came to him in Rome. We know that Dr. Luke, Timothy, John Mark, and others were with him.
Can you imagine their conversations? All in front of the guards.
Paul “received all who came to him.” The guards chained to Paul heard about how the Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah. We know that many in Caesar’s household became Christians. Perhaps some of the guards became Christians and shared the Good News.
Bound to his Mission to go to the Gentiles – Bound to Receive all who came to him, both Jews and Gentiles. Paul was Bound to Proclaim the Good News that the Hope of Israel, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, had come.
Bound to Proclaim
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. (Acts 28:31 NKJV, emphasis added)
Blue Letter Bible tells us that the word for “preach” means “to be a herald, …always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed;” (Blue Letter Bible)
Jesus preached and is our example. So how did Jesus preach? Mark 1:14-15 tells us.
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’.” (Mark 1:14-15 NKJV, emphasis added)
Jesus preached “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” What were the people to do? Repent and believe in the gospel. What does “repent” mean?
First, “repent” means that we understand and acknowledge that we have sinned against God. We haven’t kept His commandments. What are God’s commandments? Jesus summed up the commandments in Matthew 22:36-40.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (emphasis added)
Love the LORD with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind. ALL the time!
I’m not doing so well. How about you?
And the second commandment? “Love your neighbor as yourself.” As I love myself? The man who ran a red light and crashed into my car? The lady who scowls at me? Love them as I love myself?
“Repent.”
Let’s do a sharp 180 turn—that’s what repentance does. Let’s ask the Lord for forgiveness and to change us.
Believe.
Put all our trust in the Lord. Surrender our will and cling to Jesus.
“the kingdom of God is at hand.” What does that mean?
“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you [or in your midst].” (Luke 17:20-21 NKJV, emphasis added)
In other words, the kingdom is where the King is. The Creator of the heavens and earth, the Savior of the world, Christ Jesus is the King of Kings! Wherever He is, there is His Kingdom! Is the King of Kings within you?
Repent and believe for the Kingdom of God is at hand! Jesus, the Messiah, the Hope of Israel, offers forgiveness and life eternal. That was Paul’s proclamation.
Paul bound himself to proclaim, to preach, the hope of Israel. Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, the One the Israelites were looking for. He came to pay the price for our sins.
The price? Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross, and suffered the wrath of God poured out on those sins. He died on that cross … for you and me. Buried in a borrowed tomb for 3 days.
The HOPE OF ISRAEL paid for our sins. Forgiveness is waiting for all who confess their sins. That is a promise we can count on.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Jesus brought forgiveness, AND He conquered death. Our Messiah rose from the dead!
That is the proclamation that transforms lives. That is the preaching that turned the world upside down and birthed the church.
How Are You Proclaiming Jesus?
You say, “I’m nervous about sharing the Good News with others.”
Do you carry Gospel tracts with you? They provide an easy way to start a conversation. Or you could leave one on the table at a restaurant with a generous tip.
There are so many ways to share the Good News. Social media is one. Examine what you share on social media. In addition to your accomplishments, selfies, or best photos and videos, share Scripture, how God has blessed you or pray for others.
Bound in Mission to share Jesus with others.
Bound to Receive all who came to him.
Bound to Proclaim the Good News of the Hope of Israel. Bound to Disciple believers.
Bound to Disciple
“preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christwith all confidence, no one forbidding him.” (Acts 28:31 NKJV, emphasis added)
The word for “teaching” means “to instruct, explain a doctrine.” It’s discussing the Scriptures and digging deeply into them. It’s praying that the Holy Spirit will give us the words we need to share God’s message with others. Discipling is showing others how to be more like Jesus.
First comes preaching or proclaiming, then comes teaching or discipling.
Bound to Mission. Bound to Receive others. Bound to Proclaim the Good News. Bound to Disciple others through hard work, journeys, sufferings, and writing. That was Paul’s life’s mission.
Towards the end of his journey, Paul found himself:
- Bound in the Spirit and determined to go to Jerusalem despite prophecies that warned that chains awaited him. (Acts 20; 21:11).
- Dragged out of the temple and beaten. (Acts 21:27)
Before the mob … bloodied and bruised … He proclaimed the Messiah, the risen Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 22) - Proclaiming Jesus and His resurrection before the Pharisees and Sadducees, great dissension arose (Acts 23).
- Whisked out of Jerusalem because of the plot to kill him.
- Languishing in prison for two years before Felix, he proclaimed the Good News and the story of his conversion.
- Shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous viper, bound to bring hope, healing, and salvation to the people of Malta.
- Bound to proclaim the Good News to Festus and King Agrippa II.
- Chained to guards 24/7 in Rome.
- Compelled to disciple the Christians at Ephesus, Colossae, and Philippi with letters of encouragement and instruction.
- Sending Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave, back to his master with a letter asking Philemon to accept Onesimus, as a brother in Christ.
- Bound to proclaim the Kingdom of God by discipling about the Lord Jesus Christ to all who came to him.
Paul was bound for hope.
What are you bound for? Your family? Your finances? Your health? Your social media followers?
Paul wrote:
To them [the saints—believers] God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach [proclaim], warning every man and teaching [discipling] every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily [Paul’s mission]. (Colossians 1:27-29 NKJV, emphasis added)
Bound to Mission. Bound to Receive All.
Bound to Proclaim. Bound to Disciple.
BOUND FOR HOPE!
Hope that frees us from our sins and gives us everlasting life in Christ Jesus!
Reflections
- What has the Lord asked you to do for His Kingdom?
- Does the chain that binds you give you the opportunity to share the Good News with others?
- What gives you hope?
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
(Romans 5:5 NKJV)
Related Links:
Hopeless and Helpless … Until Jesus: Three Questions to Ask Yourself
Please Share Your Ideas