Paul continued to teach and preach the word of God from the house where he was permitted to live but under the Roman guard. He invited the Jewish community to come to where he lived to listen to the Word of God. They arranged to meet with Paul on a certain day, and many came to listen to him. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God and from the Law of Moses and from the prophets. He tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some believed, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement in Isaiah 6:9-10, "Go to this people and say, '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 heart and turn, and I would heal them.'"
Paul continued to reach out to them despite their rejection of the gospel. He didn't stop witnessing to people while he was under house arrest. He even wrote the book of Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon in these two years. After two years, Paul was released and continued his work in ministering to churches. However, two to three years later, he was arrested by Nero and eventually executed. Peter was also executed during this time. Nero, the emperor of Rome, persecuted and blamed Christians for the fire that took place in the city of Rome. Although they executed Paul and Peter, the gospel of Christ continued to spread to different parts of the world. Common Christians continued to share their faith and made the name of Jesus known. (Acts 28:17-31).
God eventually took Paul and Peter home, but not until God finished His calling and purpose in their lives. Both of them suffered a lot in the name of Jesus, but God used them to raise many believers to continue the work of God. We are saved today because of the sacrifice that other believers who have gone before us. They were faithful to making Jesus known throughout their lives in their generation. I pray that we will do the same in our generation. I pray that we will be like Paul to stand in our faith in Jesus regardless of the opposition and challenges, for there will be a time when we see our Heavenly Father face to face and worship Him forever.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Am I willing to stand for my faith despite the opposition and challenges? What lesson can I learn from the life of Paul and Peter? How am I living my Christian life right now?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for the life of Paul and Peter. I thank you for teaching me through the Book of Acts. Thank you for the Christians who stood in their faith despite the opposition and challenges. Please help me to do the same. May you help me stand in my faith and make your name known, for you are the only Savior who died for the sin of this world. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.