The Kingdom of God: Acts 28:21-24
“21) They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22) But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” 23) When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24) Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.” Acts 28:21-24
Controversy feeds curiosity. So it was with the gospel and the early Christians. The Jews in Rome knew the Christian sect was spoken against everywhere, but the did not know why. When Paul offered to meet with them and they eagerly embraced the opportunity.
They set a day, and they came to him in large numbers. Paul used this opportunity to solemnly testify about the kingdom of God. (See Vs 23) According to Matthew 4:17 and 23, Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom. This was also the message of the early church.
At the moment of salvation, every born-again believer is transfer out of the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:12-13) Jesus is ruler of this Kingdom. Citizenship comes with the filling and power of the Holy Spirit and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places “in Christ. (Acts 1:3-8; Ephesians 1:3)
Paul spent the whole day testifying about the kingdom of God. It lasted from morning until evening. He unpacked the message of Jesus Christ from the entire Old Testament. He referred to many Scriptures from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
When a person becomes a Christan, they can start living by Kingdom promises and principles. Peter briefly referred to this in 2 Peter 1:2-4. (Please study these verses as an introduction into Kingdom living) These precious and magnificent promises include becoming a partaker of God’s divine power, Zoe life (life in the Spirit rather than the flesh) and becoming partakers of the divine nature.
It took Paul hours to unpack the full mystery of Jesus Christ and the Christian life. He was not talking about mere religion, he was explaining the full scope of the gospel of the kingdom of God. (See John 3:1-8) This was the message Jesus preached to Nicodemus, which he was to religious minded to understand.
The results were that some people were being persuaded by Paul and believed, but others did not believe. Look at how the book of Acts ends; “30) And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31) preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” (Acts 28:30-31) The gospel of the Kingdom was the core of Paul’s message.
Have you been born-again by faith in Jesus Christ into the kingdom of God? Are you walking and living in the flesh or in the Spirit? Are you embracing kingdom promises and principles? Are you merely religious or do you have a genuine and deepening relationship with Jesus Christ? These are vital questions.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
