Acts 27 and 28 record Paul’s journey to Rome. The journey included a terrible storm while they were at sea, being shipwrecked, and nearly put to death, because of the Roman law that if a prisoner escaped the guards were to bear the punishment, and finally landing on the island of Malta. While there, Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake, which led the natives to declare Paul was a murderer, and the “gods” wouldn’t allow him to escape justice. Then when Paul showed no ill effects from the snake bite, the natives proclaimed him as a god. (How easily human minds are changed!) Upon his arrival in Rome, Paul was put under house arrest, but given some freedoms. He was able to present the good news of Jesus to some Jews who lived in Rome, but once again most rejected the truth, because of Paul’s inclusion of the Gentiles. The book ends with Paul still under arrest. According to church tradition, Paul was eventually executed by the Romans for treason, that is because he was unwilling to bow down and call Caesar God. Paul was faithful to Jesus to the end and offers us one of the most incredible examples ever, of what God can do to a life fully devoted to Him.
As we return to Matthew 10, we find Jesus selecting the twelve men He wanted to be His apostles. Jesus called the men, and then sent them out into the harvest on their first mission trip. Before He sent them, Jesus told them they would face difficulty, suffering, and persecution. He told them He hadn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. This chapter flies in the face of much modern American Christianity, which promises a life of ease and plenty. It’s true that when Jesus returns or we go to Him, life’s suffering will end, and we will experience unending joy. But here on this earth, we will face challenge, and difficulty as part of the abundant life Jesus promised us in John 10. Read Matthew 10 a couple of times and remember how honest Jesus is about the cost of following Him. He is always worthy of our following, even more so, because of His telling us the cost up front.