What Does Acts 28:31 Mean?

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ—Acts ends not with Paul's fate but with his message. The participles κηρύσσων (kēryssōn, 'proclaiming, heralding') τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ (tēn basileian tou theou, 'the kingdom of God') and διδάσκων (didaskōn, 'teaching') τὰ περὶ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (ta peri tou kyriou Iēsou Christou, 'the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ') summarize Paul's entire ministry—and the church's mission.

With all confidence, no man forbidding him—The final phrase μετὰ πάσης παρρησίας ἀκωλύτως (meta pasēs parrēsias akōlytōs, 'with all boldness, unhinderedly'). Παρρησία means 'boldness, openness, freedom of speech'—Paul held nothing back. Ἀκωλύτως is rare, emphatic: 'without hindrance, unimpeded.' Though chained, Paul preached freely in the empire's capital. The gospel had traveled from Jerusalem to Rome, from Jewish margins to empire's center, from persecution to bold proclamation. Acts ends mid-story because the story continues—in every believer who proclaims Christ 'with all confidence, no man forbidding.'