Finally, Rome
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Taking the long way home.
I would be accused by my family of taking the long way especially on those trips we do all the time. Take the scenic route or just a different route, Lately, I’ve been taking the no toll route.
When I drive to make it less boring, I like to see different things.
The journey is just as important as our destination. Sometimes we get so focused on the destination that don’t just enjoy the journey.
Paul enjoyed the journey because he knew that God was leading him the entire time. Even though it wasn’t easy… prison, death threats, loneliness, storms, hunger, shipwrecks… God was with him through it all. God used all of it to prepare him for his destination.
Paul and the other 276 who survived the shipwreck with nothing but their lives. They had no supplies, no food, no ship, just the cloths on there back. They landed on an island called Malta with nothing.
Everyone was alive and safe and they were all grateful that they lived even though they were cold and wet but happy to be alive.
They saw that it was the Lord who protected every one of them and brought them to the island of Malta.
1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
PRAY
God blessed them with favor with the people on the island. These were complete strangers who were desperate for help and the Bible says that they were shown unusual kindness.
These people were not believers but they knew how to be kind to outsiders.
Learn how to be kind to outsiders
Learn how to be kind to outsiders
We can learn something from the natives from Malta. These people knew how to practice hospitality… they knew how to take care of outsiders… they knew how to love there neighbor (the way Jesus defines it).
Remember… Parable of the Good Samaritan… it wasn’t the Priest, the Levite but it was the Good Samaritan who saw the need and took care of the victim on the side of the road.
The people of Malta saw the great need and helped by showing them unusual kindness.
First thing they did was they started a fire so these people could get warm.
Do what we can do to be helpful.
It’s not the big things, but it’s the little things that matter the most.
3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
These people went from one extreme to another. First they though Paul was a murderer; then they thought Paul was a god.
These people were isolated, they were very welcoming but they had no knowledge of who God was… they were lost.
They were a little extreme in their superstition and their crazy beliefs. Paul however, didn’t judge them or reprimand them for their way of thinking.
Don’t be so quick to judge or criticize.
Because Paul did not judge them or criticize these people, this became an open door for the love of Jesus to be shown to these people.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
God used his power to minister to the people of the island and reveal God’s love and power to these hospitable people.
Paul was able to honor them by stepping out in faith and being open to God’s miraculous healing power being demonstrated.
The people of Malta were a blessing but they were even more blessed because Jesus showed up.
God will shipwreck us in unknown places for HIS divine purpose.
God will shipwreck us in unknown places for HIS divine purpose.
The people were friendly and hospitable entertaining them and providing for their needs. This became an opportunity for God to show HIS love and power.
Beginning with the chief, Publius’ father who was healed of fever and dysentery. After Paul laid his hand on him and he was healed the people on the island who were also sick came to Paul and all of them were healed.
God used this shipwreck in a divine way to reach an unknown people group with the power of the Gospel.
Don’t underestimate the sovereign power of God. God will shipwreck us in unknown places for HIS divine purpose.
Maybe God’s placed you in a situation that looks hopeless…
Could be a bad report from the doctor,
A family that is hopelessly broken, a marriage that is in dire straights.
Be encouraged knowing and believing that God still shipwrecks us in unknown places for HIS divine purpose.
God still has a plan of restoration and healing, salvation and hospitality.
Don’t underestimate God’s power no matter how hopeless the situation may appear to be.
They stayed on Malta for three months throughout the winter and moved on when they found a ship on the island that was heading to Rome and so they hopped on.
After a few days of sailing they landed in Puteoli, Italy (near Naples). They landed about 140 miles from Rome.
14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
Paul wasn’t alone in Rome
15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
Paul was greeted by some believers and stayed with them for 7 days before heading to his destination… Rome.
He made it to the place where God called him to go. It wasn’t the place where he was going to retire, it wasn’t his forever home… it was the next leg of his journey where God called him to go.
This opened up new ministry opportunities, new people to meet, and new battles to fight. Paul tackled them with a renewed boldness.
Paul was thankful and was encouraged after meeting with his fellow brothers and sisters who came some distance to see him for 7 days. After he was settled into his new apartment in Rome he made it a point to meet with the local Jewish leaders.
Paul explained the reason to them that the Jews wanted to kill Paul. Paul said that’s why he appealed to stand before Caesar and that’s why they sent him to Rome.
None of the Jews heard anything about Paul’s case but they still wanted to learn about what Paul believed. The Jews said that they heard bad things about this belief system and this sect was spoken against by all the Jews.
So Paul had an opportunity to share the gospel with these Jews in Rome.
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
Paul went to the Jews first. He gave the Jews an opportunity to receive good news about Jesus so he spend all day trying to convince them through the law and the prophets (the Old Testament).
Some of the Jews were convinced but as Paul continued, the Jews could not accept the message Paul was preaching.
25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
The Holy Spirit was dealing with the Jewish leaders but they were unwilling to listen to the Holy Spirit. So they threw the baby out with the bath water and rejected Jesus.
Be Sensitive to the Conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Be Sensitive to the Conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Paul refers to the Prophet Isaiah that cut to the heart of the issue… the issue was their heart.
Acts 28:26–28 (ESV)
26 “ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, 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 listen.”
Paul didn’t give up on the Jews. He wanted the Jews to have the first opportunity to receive the gospel while he was in Rome. Just like he did in every city he went to. God’s salvation can only be received through faith in Jesus.
Those Jews had heard the very word of God and had seen the spokesman of God, but because of stubbornness and pride, they had been unable to understand and perceive the deeper, life-changing implications of the divine revelation that was being extended to them.
Nobody likes to be criticized for their lack of faith but Paul was right.
These people were not willing to hear, understand, and see because of their lack of faith. If they had simply listened and believed then God would have healed them.
That’s when he moved on to the Gentiles and when expressing that, the Jews got really upset.
Some manuscripts add verse 29:
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
Paul didn’t get his feelings hurt, he just moved on continued to proclaim the kingdom of God to the Gentiles.
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
That’s how the book of Acts ends. The Gospel, the Kingdom of God is proclaimed boldly and without hinderance.
Why does Acts end here and so abruptly?
The book of Acts is not about the life of Paul but about the spread of the gospel.
The book of Acts is not about the life of Paul but about the spread of the gospel.
God apparently thought it was not necessary for someone to write an additional book describing the continuing history of the early church. Now that the gospel had been preached and established at the center of trade and government, it would spread across the world.
Thus fulfilling the great commission and the great commandment Jesus set out for HIS church to fulfill.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We are Acts 29
Today we are called to be a part of the sequel, to be the unsung heroes in the continuing story of the spread of the gospel. It is that same message that we Christians are to take to our world so that many more may hear and believe.
Rome is not a destination, it’s the journey that God is calling us to live out through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Take Away:
Are we waiting for God to speak to us and are we looking for opportunities to share Jesus?
Are we opening ourselves completely to God’s revelation and truth so that HE can truly heal us?
What hinders us from teaching others about Jesus? (vs. 31)
