Paul – Tired Of Travelling?

I received an e-mail from a sincere Christian quoting the final verses of Acts 28:30-31, but in doing so, he basically implied that the dynamic Apostle Paul simply wasted away two years in Rome and entertained all who came to visit. Of course, we realize that this description hardly fits Paul’s nature or his dedication to the Mission.

In 1984, Dr. Gene Scott published introductory comments to R.W. Morgan’s book, DID PAUL VISIT BRITAIN? Then, from a transcription of his opening remarks at a Festival of Faith meeting (tape. S-1418, Oct. 2 1983) he said, “We have been teaching for a long time on the Long Lost Chapter of Acts of the Apostles.  I want you to turn to the 29th chapter of the Book of Acts. If it were there, it would be on page 185 of my Bible (KJV). It’s not there! There are only 28 chapters in the King James Version. Verses 30-31 of Ch. 28 have bothered a lot of people, including me. It ends the Acts of the Apostles, and yet verses 30-31 look like an add-on appendage, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

Now does that sound like Paul? Just living in a house in Rome, no man forbidding him. I just can’t see him putting a shingle on the door: “Bible taught to all those who want to come” or “house prayer.” Imagine, for two whole years, this man with a burning passion and a commission to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles; two whole years sitting in Rome; when he could come and go as he pleased. This just doesn’t sound like Paul saying: “Have no place to go; I’m tired of traveling; I’ve seen all the world I want to see.” 

Imagine, for two whole years, this man with a burning passion and a commission to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles; two whole years sitting in Rome; when he could come and go as he pleased.

Regarding the word “gentile”, all Bible versions have trouble with it, its root from Hebrew is “Goy” singular, Goyim, plural. Yet, in fact, there are multiple Bible references that show it to include the rejected and divorced Israel! Paul was certain of this, as his comments in Romans 9:3-4 confirm his understanding and knowledge of those to whom he was only sent, similarly as was Jesus, as He noted in Matt. 15:24, and as the same people to whom He directed His disciples, to only go. (Matthew 10:6) It is important to realize that Paul was simply re-directed by the Holy Spirit to follow along on that same back trail of the ancient Israelites and to minister to them. Remember, Paul had wanted to go to the east, after finishing his two years of training after his conversion.

Some of what is noted above comes from eleven pages of commentary on the fact that a Chapter 29 for Acts was found by a C.S. Sonnini in the archives of Constantinople between 1774 and 1793. Those pages also include the entire Chapter 29 and, unlike the KJV ending, has the concluding “Amen” common to all of Paul’s letters and epistles. In fact, they also confirm that Paul did visit Spain. What is peculiar about the date and time of this “finding”, which was eventually published around 1800, a date that coincides with the termination of the Divine punishment of the Israelites, as the 2520 years they were to be separated from His concern, (although He said that the sun and moon would fail before He would abandon them, and they have not failed) falls within the 2520 years from their Assyrian captivity, beginning from 721 B.C. to 743 B.C.   721 BC to 1800 A.D. is twenty five hundred and twenty years.