This evening after PT I returned to my place for a light meal and more time in grading papers and studying. After a sandwich and chips, and after grading the last essay on Faulkner and Joyce, I opened one of my Bibles to complete another read-through of the book of Acts. I was in the last three chapters this evening–twenty-six through twenty-eight.

These are action-packed chapters: Paul witnesses to Agrippa, journeys to Rome, but only after hellish tests on the voyage. He is accused of all manner of things; he offers a magisterial apologetic of the Christian faith; he recounts his own conversion from legalism and unbelief; he endures shipwreck; and he finally arrives in Rome where he again bears witness to the truth of Christianity.

Paul’s last words in Acts are words that Isaiah penned in the 700s B.C. They are the exact same words Jesus quoted in the gospels.

In other words, Scripture is one coherent story; it’s all connected.

Here are verses 25-31 of Acts 28, the last chapter:

²⁵ And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁶ “‘Go to this people, and say,
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
²⁷ For this people’s heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’

²⁸ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”^[f]

³⁰ He lived there two whole years at his own expense,^[g] and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:25-31, ESV)

Reflection: The more I read Scripture, the more I come away convinced of its origin being God. It truly is God-breathed. No sinner would have revealed us men to be as flawed as we are; we would have glossed over our sins or rationalized them. We would have made ourselves the heroes rather than the foolish rebels against the holy we are unless regenerated by God.

But God revealed these 66 books to us to teach us who we are, but more importantly, who God is. As Schaeffer wrote decades ago now, God is there and is not silent. He has spoken. God the Son has come. He has been crucified, buried, and resurrected. And his church continues to endure, just as promised.