In His Own Rented House

Acts 28:16-31

Key Verse 28:30,31

1. Verse 16 says that finally Paul "got to" Rome. Philemon 1:9 indicates that Paul went to Rome at an old age as a "missionary" to a foreign land. What does his example suggest about the life of mission in the Lord? (Psalms 103:5; Isaiah 40:31; Phi 3:13)

2. Romans 1:10-13 indicate that Paul prayed for "the [right] way" for him to come to Rome. Compare his life of prayer with the expression in the passage, "with a soldier to guard him" (16), "I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans" (17), or "I am bound with this chain" (20). Why do you think God allowed him to come to Rome in this way?

3. Put yourself in Paul’s position. How do you think Paul resolved the problem of "room and board" in a foreign land (16, 23, 30) 

4. Verse 17 states, "Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews." Verse 23 then says, "They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day..." and "from morning till evening he explained and declared..." What do these expressions indicate about the way Paul organized his time and plan of work in serving the Lord?

5. What does the following tell us about the message Paul carried to the people in Rome? 1) "hope of Israel" (20); 2) "preached the kingdom of God" (23,31); 3) "tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets" (23); and 4) "taught about the Lord Jesus Christ" (31)

6. Think about what Paul said to those who were unresponsive to his message in verses 25-28. What can we learn from Paul?

7. Read verses 30-31. What can we learn from Paul who: 1) "stayed there in his own rented house"; 2) "welcomed all who came to see him"; and 3) "boldly...preached...and taught..."?