Our role in the Book of Acts

Over the last twenty or so weeks, we have had the privilege of preaching through the Book of Acts at church. It really is a book that warms the blood and stirs the troops. However, the end of the book leaves you feeling somewhat shortchanged: it’s not much of an ending! After following Paul on his epic journey to Rome, which started all the way back in Acts 19:21 and which included a very detailed shipwreck (Acts 27-28), Luke finishes his narrative rather abruptly. All he tells us about Paul is that

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:30-31)

This leaves many reader questions unanswered. Firstly, did Paul ever get to stand trial before Caesar? This was one of the reasons Paul travelled to Rome, but Luke never tells us what happened (though I suspect Paul must have stood before Caesar in light of Acts 27:24). Secondly, did Paul ever get out of jail? Was he finally found innocent, considering he had done nothing wrong (Acts 26:31-32)? And thirdly, how did Paul eventually die? Did he die in prison? Did he die a natural death? Or was he beheaded under Emperor Nero in Rome (as church tradition has it)? For those of us who like a good ending, Acts 28 is a bit disappointing!

But here is what we must remember: the Book of Acts is not primarily about Paul. The central character in the Book of Acts is God himself. He is the one who is primarily at work. It is God who is at work as the unstoppable gospel spreads from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Nevertheless, Paul does play a role. Within the Book of Acts, God uses Paul as part of his work. In the same way that God causes the plants of the field to grow, but not without first sending the rain, God caused the gospel of the Lord Jesus to spread, but not without using his people. It’s not that God needed Paul or that he must use Paul, but that he chose to make Paul part of his privileged work.

However, again, it’s not just about Paul: there are literally hundreds of characters in Acts—hundreds of believers who were each Spirit-empowered gospel proclaimers. God used all of them too.

What’s more, this work is ongoing! We must remember that Acts 28 is an end but not the end: the act of making Jesus known and of God building his church will never end until the Lord Jesus returns. The Book of Acts is continuous.

For the last two thousand years, there have been literally millions of characters added to the continuous Book of Acts. The reason why you and I can call ourselves Christians is because God in his graciousness and sovereignty over the last two thousand years has used men and women to bring the gospel to us. Ever since the day our Lord Jesus declared to his disciples that they would be witnesses to the ends of the earth, billions of disciples have shared the message of Jesus. And here I stand, in Sydney, at the ends of the earth (well, compared to Jerusalem) in Engadine (the ends of the earth as far as the city of Sydney is concerned), as a forgiven sinner and disciple of the Lord Jesus. I am eternally grateful to God for the men and women he put in my life (and yours!) who brought me the message about his Son.

And yet, this is still not the end! We must remember that we too are characters in the ongoing Book of Acts. We have a role to play. The reason why believers will continue praising the Lord Jesus for the next two thousand years (or until he returns) is because God uses us! Brothers and sisters, we are part of the continuing Book of Acts. We are Spirit-empowered gospel proclaimers. Thank God that we are part of his mission. Thank God for the unstoppable gospel that brings salvation.