To the End of Acts

The final chapters of the Book of Acts focus entirely on the fate of Paul and end with Paul in a kind of custody in Rome. 
There are two places that have loomed large for Paul and in the final chapters of the book he visits them both. First, Jerusalem and then at last, Rome. 
Paul has been preacher to the Gentiles, his whole mission and work have been about preaching the gospel outside of lines in which faith has been constrained. He is opposed for such openness and those in the opposition make sure that he faces accusation in the places in which powerful people might imprison or even kill Paul. The last chapters begin in Ephesus where there are already friends of Paul who warn him against going to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem and then in Caesarea we see a line of officials and governors who preside over trials and accusations. Paul is imprisoned and beaten and spends days, months and years in custody. In the midst of all of this he repeatedly tells his story of faith when asked to explain himself. He speaks of his conversion. He speaks of coming to see the truth of the light of Jesus Christ. 
He appeals to the authorities that he is a Roman citizen and therefore deserves a hearing as such. This is what sets him towards Rome. In the midst of all of this, Luke (the author of Acts) tells us that Paul hears the promise of God, the reminder of God’s presence. It all seems so random without that. When the ship carrying Paul sets sail for Rome there are more misadventures. The ship is wrecked on the island of Malta. 
The book ends with Paul in custody in Rome. It is not prison per say, something more like house arrest. People visit him to hear his story, to hear the gospel. He does not stop sharing the gospel. 

Dear God; 
We can have these misconceptions about a well-ordered life. We can be discouraged by what seems to be the messiness of our lives, things don’t work out like we think they should have. Help us to see that even for Paul, the one who more than anyone brought the message of the gospel beyond lines of division, this crooked path was a reality.  
Make us attentive to what this day may bring and call us to live out the light of the gospel even when things don’t go our way. 
In Jesus’ name, Amen.