ACTS 28
Act 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was
called Melita.
Act 28:2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled
a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of
the cold.
Sometimes heathens were kinder to God's people than the religious crowd was.
Here we see I believe another act of God's kindness in preparing these people to
receive Paul and his company.
Act 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the
fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Act 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they
said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath
escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Act 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Here we see the age old misconception that all bad that happens is because of
someone's sin. Sin caused the original disease to come upon all flesh but
because it is in the genes, the environment and all around us, innocent people
get sick as well including babies. It is just here until Christ completely
removed the curse at a future time of His return. The curse of sin causing a
soul to be lost is already broken when we believe in Jesus Christ but death will
still reign until His return but the fear of death gone.
I believe this instance shows us the true meaning of Mark 16:18. Paul being in
the will of God and full of the spirit was able by the power of God to shake off
the viper and not be harmed. I do not believe the "they shall take up serpents"
means that we are to put on a sideshow and purposely get poisonous snakes to
show off any power.
God's gifts are always given to confirm the truth of the gospel being preached
by signs and wonders which follow those that believe. Christ gets all glory and
all is done to bring people to Christ. It is never to exalt the messenger for we
have nothing that someone else who seeks God cannot receive.
Act 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead
suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him,
they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
Act 28:7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the
island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days
courteously.
Act 28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and
of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on
him, and healed him.
Act 28:9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island,
came, and were healed:
Act 28:10 Who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded
us with such things as were necessary.
This is the result of being in a place where God can use us through the power of
the Holy Spirit. It takes faith, prayer and sometimes fasting to be in position
to be subject to the will of God's spirit. This is not done in the flesh and by
our own power or importance. It is a probability that the people on this island
would not have believed the gospel if they didn't see signs such as these. This
is probably why we hear of more miracles following believers who go among the
heathen to preach rather than the more civilized countries. Where people are the
most needy and the weakest, more of the power of God is needed and depended on.
When we get high and mighty, educated and sophisticated, we start relying on
ourselves rather than God.
Act 28:11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which
had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
Act 28:12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
Act 28:13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after
one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
Act 28:14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven
days: and so we went toward Rome.
Looks like by this time that Paul was granted much freedom to visit his brethren
in the Lord and stay with them for a season. Paul probably could have escaped at
any time and the centurion might have allowed him to do so but knowing Paul,
that wasn't the way he worked. By allowing himself to be taken to Rome, he not
only would preserve the lives of the soldiers but also he would be given an
opportunity to preach before kings.
Act 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet
us as far as Appii Forum, and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked
God, and took courage.
Act 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the
captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier
that kept him.
Act 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of
the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and
brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our
fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the
Romans.
Act 28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there
was no cause of death in me.
Act 28:19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto
Caesar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of.
Act 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to
speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
Act 28:21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea
concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm
of thee.
Act 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning
this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
The officials in Jerusalem failed to send any legal papers so he could have been
released legally but they too desired to hear what Paul had to say.
There are different kind of hearers. Some are stubborn and refuse to hear. Some
what to hear in order to accuse them of wrongdoing. Some want to hear because of
curiosity. Some want to hear because they like to gain knowledge that they can
show themselves to be learned on a particular matter and then some want to hear
in order to receive the truth.
Act 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into
his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading
them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets,
from morning till evening.
The gospel can be preached just using the Old Testament.
Act 28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed
not.
Nothing has changed. Today, some believe and some do not believe.
Act 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after
that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet
unto our fathers,
Act 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall
not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them.
Act 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto
the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
That the Jews would not believe as a nation was prophesied back in Isaiah. That
is why the nation ceased to exist for 2000 years. In these last days Israel is a
nation once again. The time of the Gentiles is drawing to a close and the gospel
will return to the Jews. The Gentiles in many places are returning back to their
pagan roots and rejecting the gospel. We as individuals can choose to believe or
reject Jesus Christ. We do not have to follow the crowds and do what is popular.
The way of the majority is usually wrong.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.
Act 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great
reasoning among themselves.
Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received
all that came in unto him,
Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern
the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
We see now that the word that the Lord spoke to Paul is coming to pass and he is
teaching the Gentiles the word of God.
God allowed Paul to have seasons where no one hindered him from preaching the
gospel. We see by reading the book of Acts that there was much persecution for
their teachings but there were times of rest from persecution so that they would
not be overwhelmed by opposition and the gospel could spread.
