With this being the final chapter in Acts, I'm going to take a week off and then keep going through the New Testament. Romans chapter 1 will be posted on 11/18.
The last chapter in Acts continues the adventures of this group, including Paul, making their way to Rome so that Paul can stand trial there. We have a shipwreck, a horribly poinsonous snakebite that has no effect, kind islanders, miraculous healing, and finally the arrival at Rome.
Paul is permitted to call together the leaders of the Jews in Rome and shares Jesus with them, as he "From morning till evening explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets." (v. 23) As usual, some are convinced, "but others would not believe". Paul brings the truth down on them when he quotes Isaiah in verses 26-27.
After all his travels and adventures over many years, we get no conclusion to the story of Paul other than he stayed in Rome for two years in his rented house, presumably under guard, and preached the kingdom of God to all who visited. Then it ends. We know from history that Paul ends up being executed in Rome, that he never leaves Rome, but in Acts we get none of that. If nothing else, that's powerful evidence that the account is reliable. Who would make up a story like this and not finish it?
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