With Acts 13 we start a new section of the book. Thus far we have seen the good news about Jesus spread throughout Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Jews have embraced Jesus as the Messiah, Samaritans have recognised him as King. Gentiles have also been welcomed into God’s church and there are small Christian communities throughout the region, meeting in homes, praying to God in the name of Jesus. Everything is ready for the gospel to go into new territories. Jesus said his disciples will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), and that is where we will be going in the chapters to come. To the ends of the earth, to the city of Rome, the centre of the Empire, the largest gathering of people at the time. The book of Acts will come to an end when we reach this city.

The target of Rome is also the reason why the author Luke focuses his narrative on the events that took place to the north and west of Jerusalem. We know that the Christian faith also spread east and south; we know that the apostles were active in many regions, but we are not given details about their work because the focus is getting the gospel to the ends of the earth, and the ends of the earth is represented by Rome.

This then is where we are headed in the chapters to come; this is the big theme we will see again and again—Jesus Christ building his church, Jesus Christ making sure that the news of his kingdom is spread to the ends of the earth. Within that overarching theme, we are also going to see how Jesus uses ordinary means to accomplish his plan. Godly men set apart for service. Churches praying and thinking strategically. Preachers making the most of the opportunities they are given. Added to this there are political decisions that influence events, storms at sea, family connections and requests for help—all of providence is subject to the will of God and used to accomplish his plan.