Back
TO
Index |
ACTS 28
- Acts 28:1 And when they
were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
- 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.
- Acts 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.
- 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.
- 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. We live in a fallen world. It is
just here for now as a result of the fall of Adam until Christ
completely removes 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 and the death of these temporary bodies will still
occur until His return
but the fear of death is gone for those that trust in the Lord for
their salvation.
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.
- Acts 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 9 So when this was
done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and
were healed:
- 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.
- Acts 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.
- 12 And landing at
Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
- 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:
- 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.
- Acts 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 18 Who, when they
had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no
cause of death in me.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 want 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.
-
Acts 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.
Nothing has changed. Today, some
believe and some do not believe.
- Acts 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,
- 26 Saying, Go unto
this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
- 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.
- 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 majority of the Jews would not believe as a
nation was prophesied back in Isaiah. That is why the nation ceased
to exist for a little over 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.
- Matthew 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:
- 14 Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.
Choosing what is politically correct, what
society deems as good, following the majority or the crowds is
usually the total opposite from God's standards and God's word.
- Acts 28:29 And when he had
said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning
among themselves.
- 30 And Paul dwelt
two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that
came in unto him,
- 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. -DC
|
|