Finishing Well
The last 4 or 5 years of the apostle Paul’s life were filled with turbulence. We read about them in Acts 27 and 28. Consider these events:
- Paul journeys towards Rome for a trial before Caesar
- He stops off at various ports
- He is in a terrible storm 14 days, and is shipwrecked
- In Malta, he experiences a potentially deadly snakebite, (and miraculous healing) and he spends three months there
- In Rome, he shares with some members of the Jewish community there (with mixed responses)
- He spends two years under house arrest.
Acts 28:30-31
For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
2 Tim 4:6-22 (words that Paul wrote while in prison in Rome)
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said. The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.
Paul ended his life and ministry faithfully and well. He was able to say, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful’.
What were some of the keys that enabled Paul to finish well?
- Paul invested in true friendship
(Ac 27:3) The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs.
(Ac 28:10). As a result we were showered with honours, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.
(Ac 28:14–15) There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
2. Paul exercised faith for each season of life
(Ac 27:23–24). For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.
In Corinth Christ came to him in a vision, as Acts 18:9–10 records: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
In Caesarea two years earlier Christ appeared (23:11): “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’ ”
On board the ship “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me” (v. 23). He saw himself as God’s property!
3. Paul refused cynicism and disappointment
People are fickle….
(Ac 28:1–6) Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us. As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
Faithful friends can let us down
(2 Tim 4:10). Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.
- In Philemon he is mentioned as a "fellow worker"
- In Colossians he is mentioned along with Luke
- Second Timothy, where it is mentioned that "...for Demas, because he loved this world, he has deserted me
(2 Tim 4:14-16) Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said. The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.
4. Paul was bold, knowing that faith is a fight
(Ac 28:31). He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
(2 Tim 4:7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
5. Paul kept your eyes on the reward ahead (2 Tim 4:8)
(2 Tim 4:8). And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
He had begun on the Damascus Road thirty years earlier, and after his time in the Arabian desert he traveled the ancient world in three missionary journeys. The fourth ended in Rome….now, reward was ahead.
And so the book of Acts comes to an end. Early Christian tradition indicates that Paul was released and had another period of public ministry—reaching ‘the limits of the West’—before being re-arrested and condemned to death by decapitation.
Nothing about his trial before Caesar, nothing is recorded about his death
The Book of Acts closes with the fulfilment of the words of Jesus (1:8). The gospel had reached to the ends of the earth, extending to the far regions of the western Roman empire, to the preeminent city of the civilised world.
Paul finished very well! May the same be true of us.