Knowing God through His Word…Day by Day

Bob Deffinbaugh comments on the ending of the book of Acts:

One final word about the supposedly “sudden and abrupt” ending of the Book of Acts. Many have noted the unusual ending of Acts. Some have explained this ending by suggesting that Luke intended to write yet another volume. I think that the ending of Acts is both beautiful, and enlightening. Consider with me the way that Luke ends this work as we conclude this message.

There are some very obvious facts that are not given to us in Acts before the book ends. We are not told of Paul’s fate, or of the outcome of his trial. We are not told of the fall of Jerusalem. We are left without any word on these matters, matters which we would very much like to know more about.

I am not inclined to believe that Luke omitted these things because they had not yet happened, though this may be the case. If they had not yet happened, they would take place very soon after the Book of Acts came to a close. Regardless of the reasons why more information is not included, it was not included, and this must be in accordance with the purposes of God, and especially His purposes for this book.

Luke does tell us that “two full years” passed, during which Paul was free to proclaim the gospel and to minister to all who came to him (28:30-31). The expression “two full years” suggests to me that Luke may have known the outcome of Paul’s trial, and also of the fate of Israel and Jerusalem. If so, he did not include them in his book. Why not?

I think I know the answer, an answer which should prove to be very enlightening to each and every Christian today. Luke’s purpose was not to provide us with a book that has a “happily ever after” ending. Much of our uneasiness with the ending of Acts is that we don’t have a fairy tale conclusion. What Luke does tell us, however, is that the gospel was proclaimed to the “remotest part of the earth” just as Jesus had said (see Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:6-8). It is the progress of the proclamation of the gospel which is foremost in Luke’s mind, and the Book of Acts makes this progress very clear.

What is not so clear is the fate of people. We are not told of the fall of Israel and Jerusalem. We are not told of the outcome of Paul’s trial. We are not told of the deaths of most of the apostles.⁵⁶⁹ Acts is not a biblical version of a “book of martyrs.” Acts is the account of the word of God through the Lord Jesus and through the church. It is the account of the progress of the gospel, and not a series of “human interest stories” on the lives of the apostles or other saints.

Our dissatisfaction (and that’s what it really is, in my opinion) with the ending of the Book of Acts is a reflection of our own distorted thinking and priorities. We are more “people-centered” than we are “gospel-centered.” To put it more bluntly, we are more “self-centered” than we are “gospel-centered.” The reason why we are so interested in Paul’s outcome is because we are so interested in our own safety and comfort. Paul was a gospel-centered man, and so were the apostles. They were not interested in their own comfort, security, or preservation from pain and suffering. They were eager for the gospel to be proclaimed, whether this meant life or death for them, and whether it meant pain or prosperity for them. Look at the following texts and take note of the “gospel-centeredness” of them, in contrast to the thinking and feelings of our own day and age.

When Paul thinks of his own future, he thinks not of safety, security, or of comfort, but of the progress of the gospel in terms of the salvation of the lost and the spiritual growth of believers:

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but {that} with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if {I am} to live {on} in the flesh, this {will mean} fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both {directions,} having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for {that} is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again (Philippians 1:18-26).

In speaking of his deliverance, Paul thought much more of his final deliverance, into the kingdom of God, rather than of any deliverance from suffering and pain in this life:

But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him {be} the glory forever and ever. Amen (2 Timothy 4:17-18).

When Paul spoke to Christians concerning their conduct, he spoke with reference to the impact which their conduct would have on the gospel:

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, {to be} sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, {with} purity in doctrine, dignified, sound {in} speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. {Urge} bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:3-14).

Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and {our} doctrine may not be spoken against. And let those who have believers as their masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these {principles.} (1 Timothy 6:1-2).

Today, we seek to motivate Christians to obey Christian principles so that they can live happier, more successful lives. But Paul urged Christians to live in obedience to the Word of God so that the gospel would not be hindered.

And when Paul prayed or asked for prayer, it most often pertained to his boldness and clarity in proclaiming the gospel, not in his deliverance from suffering and difficulties:

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as {it did} also with you; and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil {one.} (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3).

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and {pray} on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in {proclaiming} it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:18-20).

May the sake of the gospel become our great desire, overthrowing the fleshly desires of self-interest and self-protection. May we, like Paul, see the salvation of the lost and the spiritual growth of believers as the task worthy of our suffering, pain, and even of death.

To read the rest of the commentary on Acts 28, click here: