ACTS 28

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NOTE how far they were taken by the storm?
1 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.

2 The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, ``Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.'' 5 However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
NOTE the superstition of the natives about Paul and the snake. They just didn’t know that he was a man on a mission for Jesus and would not be destroyed by a storm or a snake…

7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10 They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.
God has people everywhere that He will use for His kids. Publius, a wealthy man, did a wonderful thing with his hospitality. I’m sure he was written up in the Malta Daily News that week with pictures and everything. HOWEVER, Publius received far more than notoriety out of his kind gesture. Paul was sensitive to the needs in this man’s world. Publius’ dad was a very sick man. Paul showed concern, not as a world-wide healer, but as a brother, asking the question in his spirit, “What can I do to help?” Paul went in to see the father, prayed with him and he was healed. NOTE that Paul put his empty hands on this sick man and God healed him! You can do that…you can enter people’s lives daily being sensitive to their personal needs with that same question in your heart, representing the same powerful God of Paul. This is one of the great Acts of Jesus that continues through until today…Jesus is alive and well seeking to touch people everywhere through you! This is what I mean by Acts 29…the Acts of Jesus continues today as we walk together!

NOTE that once the word spread around of Paul’s concern and God’s touch, then all those who were sick came looking to be cured in the same way. NOTE that these people weren’t asking theological questions. Paul was powerfully used by God by “being the church of Jesus among the people”, not by holding classes and seminars in order to share with them what he knew.

11 At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12 After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 15 And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
Here’s a man who has supernaturally survived a killer storm, a poisonous snake, stoning and all of the attacks of the religious “saints”, yet he finds himself very encouraged when seeing brothers and sisters from all around Rome. Paul truly practiced the sense of community (family) that we long for today…

NOTE throughout the Acts of Jesus, Luke (the writer of this book) continually journals how many days or months they stayed in a place. This is truly a travelogue with great detail. Luke is considered one of the greatest historians in ancient writings with his accuracy and detail.

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. 17 After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, ``Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 ``And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. 19 ``But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20 ``For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.'' 21 They said to him, ``We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 ``But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.''
This is astounding to me! Paul has been rejected throughout the world in most every city he went…been kicked out by some of the best of the Jewish synagogues (churches), yet his first move is to make contact with the leadership of the local synagogue in Rome.

The word had spread all the way to Rome about this Jesus movement among the Jews. NOTE their interest in hearing Paul’s views—his views on Scripture, on Messiah, etc. So the leaders set a day aside to hang out with Paul at his new quarters.

23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. 25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, ``The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,
`GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, ``YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.''' 28 ``Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.'' 29 [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]
NOTE that Paul has a place where he can welcome and entertain people—lots of people (“large numbers”). I LOVE THIS! One of the prayers of our hearts as we walk together is for there to be large homes open up in cities throughout this country and other countries where people can gather to discuss the kingdom of God and Jesus. In fact, it’s our prayer some day to have a home locally where we can model this kind of thing—a home that is a safe place where the Nicodemus’s can feel free to come to learn and experience the love of Jesus. Now this doesn’t have to be a special home set aside for such activity as you see here with Paul or Peter’s house in Capernaum or Jason’s home in Thessalonica, but this could be your home that is a safe place where people can come to learn more about the kingdom of God and Jesus.

NOTE that some who came were persuaded as Paul shared with them and some weren’t. He quotes the prophecy out of Isaiah regarding people who will keep on hearing and not understand, keep on seeing but not truly see—people whose hearts have become dull and hardened. He points out to them that God first comes to the Jews (the religious) and because of their unwillingness to see and hear His message, He will not be able to heal them. AND this same salvation of God is being sent out to the Gentiles (the non-religious) who are receiving it enthusiastically. This same thing is continuing today…

30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. Acts 28:1-31
NOTE Paul spends the next two years receiving and welcoming lots of people at his place where he spent his time talking about only two things…
The kingdom of God
Jesus

This is exactly how we want to spend the rest of our lives teaching and loving people about God’s kingdom lifestyle and the reality of walking with Jesus. In this way, those who listen and “catch it” will naturally be transformed in their hearts and become revolutionaries in the name of Jesus everywhere they go.

ACTS 29…NOTE that Acts has only 28 chapters and yet the Acts of Jesus continue in our lives today as we walk with Jesus personally, walk with others and wait on Jesus to lead out and show up in our daily lives. Our intent is to now continue with one another in a daily walk by going through the rest of the bible—chapter by chapter and paragraph by paragraph. (If you don’t want to continue Acts 29, please let us know and we’ll remove you from the daily email blast.) Here are some closing thoughts on how we might continue walking together…
As we move through other books of the bible we will focus on kingdom principles and Jesus.
From now on you should receive your ACTS 29 DAILY either late the night before or early morning.
Use it for your own edification as you put on your oxygen mask each day.
Use it for walking together with others…discussing from time to time these same things…it’s a good, mutual reference point as you walk.
Share it with others in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth…
REMEMBER there are only 3 goals for doing this…(1) To walk with Jesus, (2) To walk with others and (3) To wait for Jesus to lead out in your life!