Thursday, February 7, 2013

TRYING TO CONVINCE

 
 
Acts 28

            Paul finally arrived in Rome after a long, arduous, and dangerous journey.  He rented a house and was allowed to live on his own with a Roman soldier guarding him.  The first thing he did was contact the leaders of the Jewish community and asked to speak with them (28:17).  He explained to them why he had been brought to Rome as a prisoner.  The Jews were not put off by Paul and reported they had heard nothing from Jerusalem about him.  They had heard many negative things about “the Jesus sect” but they wanted to hear more from Paul.
            So Paul set a date with them and the Jews showed up in huge numbers at his house.  Then we read, “From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets” (28:23).  Two things jump out at me from this verse.  First, can you imagine spending an entire day pointing out the Old Testament evidences that Jesus was truly the Messiah?  I can’t begin to wrap my head around that.  I might, maybe, be able to fill up a couple of hours referring to the Law and Prophets and showing how Jesus fulfilled the prophesies.  What an amazing grasp of scriptures Paul had!
            The second thing that strikes me from verse 23 is that Paul tried to convince them.  He was not merely giving out information.  He was in debate mode and was working hard to present the information in such a way that they would be persuaded of the truth and begin to follow Jesus.  The great apostle Paul gave them everything he had and took the whole day doing it!
            What was the result?  “Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.  They disagreed among themselves and began to leave…” (28:24, 25).  The crowd ended up divided.  Some were persuaded while others would not believe.  Notice, their unbelief came from their own unwillingness to believe the truth.  How do we account for these results?  Even the brilliant Paul was unable to convince people who would not believe.  He knew the results lay in the hands of the Holy Spirit.  That’s why he quotes Isaiah in 28:25-27:
            “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.’
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.”
            Nobody will believe apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.  Paul understood that.  He also understood the hardness of Jewish hearts, the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their eyes.  Nevertheless, those who saw, heard, and understood, were saved.  Paul did not fail to try to persuade them even though he knew it might be fruitless.
            Our society and our culture seem very similar to the Roman Jews whom Paul tried to convince that day.  As I look around me I see hardened hearts, clogged ears, and blinded eyes.  Does it seem like sharing the gospel is hopeless sometimes?  Does the lack of response discourage us?  Do we often feel like throwing up our hands in frustration while shaking the dust off our feet?  Yes.  But we never, never, never give up!  The results lie in the hands of God!  Some will be convinced!  Some will believe!  Let us not grow weary of doing good but let’s keep sharing the good news.  Remember the last two verses of the Book of Acts, “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.  Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:30, 31).  He didn’t give up!


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