QT 14/06/2026 Sun Acts 28 Freedom in Rome: The Gospel Unchained 在罗马的自由：福音的释放

QT 14/06/2026 Sun Acts 28 Freedom in Rome: The Gospel Unchained
READ http://www.esv.org/acts28

Imagine preaching the Gospel in the heart of the empire that crucified Jesus—under guard, yet completely free. That’s Paul in Rome. Today, we’ll see how the message of Christ breaks every chain and moves boldly, even where the world tries to stop it!

As the Book of Acts draws to a close, we find Paul arriving in Rome, the heart of the empire that had recently crucified Christ. What an irony! Even though chained, Paul is granted remarkable freedom to proclaim the Gospel. This is not the freedom of a citizen enjoying full liberty, nor is it a freedom untouched by limitations—Paul is still under guard—but it is the freedom of God’s message moving unhindered, even in the midst of a powerful empire.

Acts 28:16 tells us, "And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him." What astonishing words—after all that happened, the dangers, the plots and the shipwreck, Paul arrived in Rome!

Here, we see the first glimpse of this freedom. Though under supervision, Paul has space and time to receive visitors, discuss truth, and share the message of Christ. God often works through what seems like restriction, transforming circumstances into opportunities for bold witness.

Paul’s legal situation in Acts 28:18–19 underscores this paradox: "When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty... But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar."

Even though the law offered him freedom, external pressures limited it. Yet this limitation did not prevent Paul from proclaiming the Gospel. In fact, it became the stage for God’s plan to spread salvation to the Gentiles.

In Acts 28:23, we read: "From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."

Notice the extraordinary boldness: Paul used every available opportunity to teach, engaging hearts and minds from morning to evening. His freedom was exercised not through the absence of restriction, but through a commitment to faithfulness in every circumstance.

Finally, in Acts 28:28–31, the culmination of this chapter emphasizes the unhindered nature of the Gospel: "He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."

Here, the freedom of the Gospel is fully evident. Paul’s ministry flourished, reaching both Jews and Gentiles, not because Rome granted him full liberty, but because God’s Word cannot be chained. The Gospel itself carries freedom—freedom from fear, freedom from sin, and the power to reach hearts across barriers.

Reflection: The Gospel is a message that liberates, even in constrained circumstances. Paul’s life reminds us that God’s truth can be proclaimed boldly, regardless of earthly limitations. Our freedom in Christ is not merely legal or social—it is spiritual, relational, and eternal. We, too, are called to proclaim the kingdom of God with boldness, trusting that the message of salvation carries its own power to free hearts, no matter the obstacles.

Prayer

Lord, may I grasp the freedom You give through the Gospel. Help me to speak and live Your truth boldly, even when circumstances feel limiting. Let Your Word move unhindered in my life and the lives of those around me, bringing salvation and freedom to all who hear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

QT 14/06/2026 星期日. 使徒行传 28 在罗马的自由：福音的释放
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/act/28/

试想在曾钉死耶稣的帝国心脏地带传讲福音——身受监禁，却全然自由。这就是保罗在罗马的写照。今天，我们将看到基督的信息如何打破一切枷锁，甚至在世人试图阻挠的地方，依然勇往直前！

随着《使徒行传》接近尾声，我们看到保罗抵达了罗马——这个不久前才将基督钉上十字架的帝国的心脏地带。何等讽刺！虽然保罗被囚，他却被赋予了非凡的自由去传扬福音。这并非公民享有的完全自由，也不是不受任何限制的自由——保罗仍受看守——但这是上帝的信息得以畅通无阻地传播的自由，即便身处一个强大的帝国之中。

《使徒行传》28章16节告诉我们：“我们到了罗马，保罗获准独自与看守他的士兵居住。”多么令人惊叹的话语——历经种种变故、危险、阴谋和海难之后，保罗终于抵达了罗马！

在这里，我们初次窥见了这种自由。尽管受到监视，保罗仍有空间和时间接待访客、探讨真理、传讲基督的福音。神常常借着看似限制的处境行事，将环境转化为大胆作见证的机会。

《使徒行传》28章18-19节中保罗的法律处境突显了这一悖论：“ 他们审讯之后，因为在我身上没有什么该死的罪，就想要释放我。19 可是犹太人反对，我迫不得已才上诉凯撒，并不是有什么事要控告我的国民。”

尽管法律赋予了他自由，但外部压力却限制了这种自由。然而，这种限制并未阻止保罗传扬福音。事实上，这反而成了神将救恩传给外邦人的舞台。

在《使徒行传》28章23节中，我们读到：“他从早到晚向他们讲解，为　神的国竭力作见证，引用摩西的律法和先知的话劝他们信耶稣。”

请注意这种非凡的胆量：保罗利用一切可用的机会教导，从早到晚触动人们的心灵与思想。他所展现的自由，并非源于没有限制，而是源于在任何境遇中都坚持忠心的承诺。

最后，在《使徒行传》28章28-31节中，本章的高潮强调了福音不受阻碍的本质：“ 所以你们应当知道，　神这救恩，已经传给外族人，他们也必听从。” 29（有些抄本在此有第29节：“他说了这话，犹太人中间大起争论，就走了。”）30 保罗在自己所租的房子里，住了两年。凡来见他的人，他都接待，31 并且放胆地传讲　神的国，教导有关主耶稣基督的事，没有受到什么禁止。

在这里，福音的自由显而易见。保罗的事工蓬勃发展，既触及犹太人，也触及外邦人，这并非因为罗马给予了他完全的自由，而是因为上帝的话语无法被捆绑。福音本身就蕴含着自由——脱离恐惧的自由、脱离罪恶的自由，以及跨越障碍触动人心的力量。

反思：福音是一则释放人的信息，即使在受限的环境中亦然。保罗的一生提醒我们，无论世上的限制如何，神的真理都能被大胆地宣讲。我们在基督里的自由不仅是法律上的或社会上的——更是属灵的、关系上的，且是永恒的。我们同样被呼召要大胆地宣讲神的国度，深信这救恩的信息自有其能力释放人心，无论面临何种障碍。

祷告

主啊，愿我能领受祢借着福音所赐的自由。求祢帮助我，即使在环境看似受限之时，也能大胆地传讲并活出祢的真理。愿祢的话语在我生命中，以及我周围人的生命中畅通无阻，将救恩与自由带给所有听见的人。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿们。