Acts 28:30-31
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Reflection
Luke ends Acts on a note of triumph, showing Paul in the capital of the world as he preaches the gospel “without hindrance” to all who will hear it.
Luke and Paul both knew that the church’s mission was not fully accomplished. Paul mentions in his letters that he intended to travel beyond Rome to even more distant Spain (Rom. 15:24). In some sense, however, Jesus has fulfilled his promise (Acts 1:8): the message of salvation has begun to reach the “end of the earth,” and because God has proven faithful to bring his gospel to Rome, we can trust that he will continue to spread it abroad. Acts is intentionally open-ended, inviting our participation in God’s mission to spread his message of forgiveness to all people. The book ends with Paul preaching the kingdom of God with “boldness and without hindrance.” This is a fitting summary and conclusion to the book. The gospel of Jesus Christ goes from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, not without trouble, but without hindrance. God’s purposes will always prevail in the end. The book of Acts tells the story of Jesus building his church by his grace and gives us confidence that he will continue to build it until he returns.
Revelation 22:6-21
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Reflection
This great gospel of grace is the hope of the world, and in the Bible’s last words we are reminded one final time that it is free for the taking: “let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Rev. 22:17; cf. Isa. 55:1–2).
How can this be? The answer is not that God is lenient toward sin or that fallen human beings deserve such grace. The answer is that Jesus Christ, the Lamb, has paid the price on our behalf. Our robes are made white and we have eternal access to the tree of life (Rev. 22:14) because of the provision of our Savior. Jesus was punished so that we could be delivered. He was forsaken so that we could be befriended. He was cast out so that we could be brought in because of his glorious grace. All God asks is that we lay down our pride and embrace Christ’s perfect record as our own. Nothing is to be added to or subtracted from this message of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord (vv. 18–19). From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a message of God’s saving grace in Jesus, whose final glory is yet to come. The final prayer, for Jesus to come soon to make all things new and to bring his people home to himself, is the cry of our hearts. He is our great hope and eternal treasure.
Psalm 36:7-9
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Pray that your entire life will revolve around the grace of God found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that nothing would outweigh or overwhelm your desire to drink and share about “the water of life without price” (Rev. 22:17).