The Apostle Paul was under house arrest in Rome, yet he was able to preach the gospel. From 60-62 A.D., Paul’s message could be summarized as ‘the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.’ The Lord had already told Paul that he was to be tried by Emperor Nero (Acts 27:24). By faith, Paul expected to be acquitted and released (Philippians 1:25, 2:24) and he must have been because he subsequently continued his mission to Greece (Titus 3:12), Asia Minor (2 Tim 1:18, 4:12), and possibly to Spain (Romans 15:23-28). However, in about 67 A.D. Paul was re-imprisoned and executed by Emperor Nero.

Acts 28 highlights a window of opportunity for the gospel. Circumstances are not always ideal for preaching the gospel. In fact, they are often complicated and frustrating. Across Central Asia today, there are many different contexts where the gospel is preached. In some cities like Ashgabat, the capital city of Turkmenistan, the government is extremely repressive and hostile to Christians. In other cities like Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, the government is more open-minded, but not entirely favorable towards the gospel. We know that the window of opportunity for the gospel in Bishkek is more open than in Ashgabat. For example, there are a number of Kyrgyz churches, a seminary, a college and marketplace ministries in Bishkek today.

We can pray from the comfort and security of our homes in New England that the window of opportunity for the gospel will open even more widely in cities like Bishkek and that this window will open just a crack in more repressive places like Ashgabat.

The Apostle Paul did not know the exact timetable God had for preaching the gospel in Rome, but he took advantage of whatever situation he was in to further the spreading of the Good News. We can pray and hope that believers in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan may be filled with the Holy Spirit’s boldness to serve in similar ways in their cities and that foreign Christians, too, can follow Paul’s example.