Unhindered
Tony Cooke
I love this. The last word in one translation of Acts is “unhindered,” and it refers to the proclamation and teaching of the gospel.
Acts 28:30-31 (NASB)
30 Now Paul stayed two full years in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
“Unhindered” reminds me of the great breakthrough Paul witnessed as he preached in Ephesus: “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20 NKJV).
There were times in Paul’s ministry when the gospel flowed freely and multiplied, and other seasons during which he personally faced great hindrances. Sometimes these overlapped. Yet Paul’s focus was never on comfort or convenience, but on the spread and expansion of the gospel.
While Paul was under the house arrest described above (Acts 28), he wrote to the church at Philippi and said:
Philippians 1:12-14 (NLT)
12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
In a later and more severe imprisonment, one that preceded his execution, Paul told his spiritual son, “And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen” (2 Tim 2:9-10 NLT).
Thessalonica was another place from where the gospel proliferated, in this case, throughout northern and southern Greece. Paul wrote them saying, “And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God” (1 Thes 1:8 NLT).
We see these beautiful references to the word of God flowing “unhindered” in Rome, and “ringing out” from Thessalonica, but in both locations, Paul faced hindrances personally.
- “Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us” (1 Thes 2:18 NKJV).
- “I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now)” (Rom 1:13 NKJV).
- “For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you” (Rom 15:22 NKJV).
What a paradox! Paul, at various times, was imprisoned, in chains, and hindered. But at other times we see the gospel growing mightily and prevailing, spreading, and ringing out everywhere.
Is it mere coincidence, or is there a glorious truth in the final word of Acts being “unhindered?” Was the Holy Spirit dropping a hint or even setting a standard that the church in future centuries should work toward?
At the end of Paul’s life, he could no doubt have recalled the multitude of challenges and hindrances he had faced. He had earlier told the Galatians, “I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus” (Gal 6:17 NLT). Clement of Rome, an early church leader recorded that Paul had been “seven times thrown into captivity.”
But I don’t think Paul’s focus was on the traumatic experiences he had undergone during the course of his ministry. Instead, he triumphantly declared that he had fought a good fight, finished his race, and kept the faith (see 2 Tim 4:7). He then noted that even though many had abandoned him, the Lord had strengthened him “so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear” (2 Tim 4:17 NKJV).
What About Us?
I suppose any of us could be quite intimidated if we measured ourselves against the resolve and consecration that Paul consistently exhibited. Regardless of our current maturity, individually or corporately, we have to start where we are. However, we don’t have to stay there. We can increase in our commitment and surrender “levels,” becoming more yielded and effective.
Paul found it needful to encourage Timothy, “Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:3 AMPC). I think all disciples will benefit from hearing that as well. May God help us, no matter what personal hindrances we may face, to promote and celebrate an unhindered gospel as it powerfully advances around the globe.
