Boldly and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. - Acts concludes with 'boldly' (parrēsia, parrēsia-'boldness, frank speech,' the mark of the Spirit's empowering) and 'without hindrance' (akōlytōs, akōlytōs-'unhindered, unobstructed'). His content is the same as at beginning: 'the kingdom of God' (basileia tou theou, basileia tou theou) and 'the Lord Jesus Christ' (kyrios Iēsous Christos, kyrios Iēsous Christos). The final word 'without hindrance' suggests the gospel's unstoppable advance: imprisoned Paul proclaims more freely than many free citizens. Luke ends not with Paul's martyrdom (which tradition records) but with his ongoing witness-a fitting conclusion for a book about the Spirit's unstoppable mission. The gospel reaches Rome, the empire's center, carried by a bound apostle whose chains cannot bind the Word of God.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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