Thoughts on the Epistle to the Romans (1) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Romans 1:1

Thoughts on the Epistle to the Romans (1)
The apostle Paul's epistle to the Christians in Rome is placed directly after the book of the Acts in the Bible. There is a clear connection between these two books. In the Acts, we hear the apostles preaching and calling for faith in the Saviour Jesus Christ directly.
There Peter and Paul are in the foreground. Peter was sent by God primarily to the people of Israel, whereas Paul addressed the heathen nations far more. Peter was one of the twelve apostles whom the Lord had chosen during His ministry on earth. Paul was not called to the office of an apostle by the glorified Christ in heaven until later (cf. chs 2,3,17 & Galatians 2:8).
Paul, previously called Saul, had been so zealous for the Jewish religion prior to his conversion to Christ that he persecuted Christians cruelly. His conversion is reported several times in the Acts (cf. 9:22,23). The expression "from Saul to Paul" results from this dramatic change.
Alongside the ministry of preaching on his missionary journeys, Paul also wrote letters to Christians in various regions of the Roman Empire to strengthen them in their faith. He had not yet been able to visit the believers in Rome. So he described the fundamental facts and blessed consequences of the gospel in great detail for them. This epistle therefore is rightly placed between the Acts and the other epistles.
(to be continued next Sunday)
Today's reading: Acts 23:1-16