Mission Confirmed - 28:11-22

I will never forget one instance, mostly because my brother Tim won’t let me, but anyway. We were traveling to the coast from my parents house in Burney.

I’m driving, and I knew exactly the direction we needed to go. Right up until we all start looking around and thinking, this doesn’t look right.

At that point we start looking for landmarks and road signs.

It turned out that I had forgotten to make a very important turn.

When we get the feeling that we might be going the wrong way, we need confirmation.

This same principle is true in life.

Sometimes the circumstances and situations that arise start making us feel like we are going the wrong way.

That’s when we start to question.

Maybe we didn’t understand. Maybe we were supposed to do something different.

Did God really lead us this way?

Oftentimes, it is trials and difficulties that make us ask this.

Paul has just been through a series of trials.

While there have been gospel opportunities along the way, he has still had a very difficult time.

As they resume their journey to Rome, God provides confirmation of Paul’s mission.

When we begin to doubt God’s direction and purpose, He sends reassurance.

Reassurance can take two primary forms.

As God sends reassurance we recommit to our mission.

When doubts arise, God enables us to be…

1. Reassured by circumstance vv. 11-16

Just as circumstances can be the source of discouragement and doubt, they can also reassure us.

Sometimes we need to change our perspective to see circumstances as reassurance.

Earlier in Acts we saw the disciples being reassured by suffering.

Look back at .

Acts 5:40–42 NKJV

40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

This opposition by the Jewish leaders told the disciples that they were on the right track! It made them more bold.

Other times it was God removing obstacles that encouraged them. We have the appointment of deacons in ch. 6; Paul’s conversion in leads to peace for the churches (v. 31); the salvation of Gentiles in ; the miraculous release of Peter in ch. 12; Paul surviving stoning in ch. 14; the miraculous release of Paul and Silas in ch. 16; and that’s just a sample!

Here’s the point.

God provides reassurance of our mission through our circumstances.

Sometimes that reassurance is through the opposition of those who hate the gospel.

Other times that reassurance comes through God’s provision, protection, and strength.

In this passage we find three methods used by God to reassure Paul and confirm his mission.

Method #1. Paul is reassured…

a. Through favor vv. 11-13

READ v. 11

This wasn’t a very popular port. There just “happens” to be a ship wintering there that can take them further on their route to Rome.

This is the provision of God!

The Christian life is filled with Divine appointments, not coincidences.

Look at (S).

Proverbs 21:1 NKJV

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

They spend three months on this island with people continually coming and being healed by Paul.

God is reassuring Pau through His provision of a ship.

READ v. 12

Here’s how they went (S).

There is no explanation as to why they stay in Syracuse for three days. It seems likely they had to find another ship to continue their journey.

What I see here is God’s provision of smooth sailing.

All blessings are from God. Even blessings of good weather and safe travels.

This is emphasized in (S).

James 1:17 NKJV

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

After facing so much bad weather and difficulty, they now seem to travel fairly easily.

This highlights that God really wanted Paul on the island of Malta.

READ v. 13

Now they travel to Rhegium and then to Puteoli (S).

Again I am struck but how different the narrative is here as opposed to earlier.

They sail from place to place with apparent ease.

God is letting Paul know that the time to go to Rome has come.

God’s favor is on display as they have good weather and smooth sailing.

God’s favor confirms our mission.

We face hard times and trials and difficulty and we start to question if we are really doing God’s will.

We start to question if God has called us to do what we do and be where we are or if we are operating in the flesh.

God confirms our mission. He reassures us.

One of the ways He does that is through easier circumstances.

All it really takes is one event, seen through the right lens, to reassure us that we are on the right path.

Method #1. God confirms Paul’s mission through favorable circumstances.

Method #2. Paul is reassured…

b. Through fellowship vv. 14-15

READ v. 14

There are two things that I love about what this verse describes.

1 - The body of Christ is to care for one another.

Here we have fellow believers housing and caring for a traveling member of the body of Christ!

Paul is a prisoner of Rome at this point.

Associating with him is probably not the best move from a human standpoint.

Many people distance themselves from someone who is in Paul’s situation. Not these believers.

2 - The centurion allows Paul to stay with them.

This is a small miracle in my opinion.

A prisoner is allowed to stay with people who may have an interest in helping him escape.

Paul has shown many times already that escape is not something he will consider.

God wants Paul in Rome.

This is how the body of Christ is supposed to work.

We are to care for one another.

The fellowship of believers confirms our mission.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ provide reassurance that we are on the right path!

READ v. 15

The fellowship that Paul enjoys at Puteoli continues in every city they visit on the way to Rome!

Here’s their route (S).

What is so incredible here is that the people go out of their way to be a source of encouragement and strength to Paul.

Notice the wording, “they came to meet us.”

As brothers and sisters in Christ we must be willing go out of our way to be together.

Relationships can be inconvenient. When you are headed out in the morning with a planned agenda and you get a call that someone in the church had a loss or a trial hit, we have a choice to make.

Will we prioritize our own plans? Or will we put the body of Christ first?

These people lay aside whatever plans they had and they deliberately seek Paul out.

Why? Because that’s what family does.

The body of Christ is described as a family. Your family experience may have been a difficult one. You may look at me and say “Pastor, if this is a family, I don’t want it. Family just hurts you.”

Can I invite you to experience what family is supposed to be?

Here at Grace Church, we are a family. Family takes care of one another. We show up for one another.

One of my burdens for us this year is to do better at this.

These people show up for Paul.

The result is that he thanks God and takes courage.

Look at how this impacted Paul!

Gratitude - The support of the body of Christ fills Paul with thanksgiving!

In almost every epistle Paul writes he speaks of how thankful he is for the believers. Look at (S).

Philippians 1:3 NKJV

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

Gratitude

Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ are brothers and sisters!

When we support and encourage one another it should lead us to rejoice in our God!

Courage - The support of the body enabled Paul to face the trial ahead!

In Paul mentions receiving comfort from the body of Christ (S).

2 Corinthians 7:6 NKJV

6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

The God of all comfort comforts us through fellowship!

One of the realizations that all of us have as we grow older is that life is hard.

A second realization is that life is easier when we have a community we can depend on.

Turn to (p. 767).

(p. 767)

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NKJV

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

We need one another!

God provides strengthening through the body of Christ.

This is such an awesome example of how the body of Christ is supposed to work!

Reassurance is provided by our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Method 1 - mission confirmed through favorable circumstances. Method 2 - mission confirmed through fellowship.

Method #3. Paul is reassured…

c. Through the fantastic v. 16

Sometimes God uses the supernatural to confirm our mission and provide reassurance that we are where we need to be doing what we are called to do.

That is what I believe we see here in v. 16.

READ v. 16

The centurion doesn’t deliver Paul with the other prisoners.

v. 16 – The centurion doesn’t deliver Paul with the other prisoners. He allows him to stay in a private place with a soldier to guard him. How many of these soldiers who guarded trusted Christ?

He allows him to stay in a private place with a soldier to guard him.

I look at this as a miracle.

Is there any other explanation for why every other prisoner is taken to the captain of the guard, but Paul isn’t?

God is reassuring Paul that he is where God wants him.

God is using external circumstances to provide the confirmation Paul needs.

How many of these soldiers who guarded Paul do you think ended up trusting Christ?

I look forward to finding out in heaven.

How many of these soldiers who guarded trusted Christ?

Miracles happen every day. We just don’t recognize them.

One easily overlooked miracle is presented to us in (S).

Psalm 3:5 NKJV

5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.

Miraculously open doors and fantastic opportunities are a reassurance that we are going God’s direction.

God’s miraculous provision confirms our mission.

Again, we have seen this over and over again in Acts.

Miraculous releases from prison. Miraculous healings. Miraculous transportation.

In our lives, God works miracles. There have been many times where I could not see how a situation was going to work. Times when the future was very uncertain.

God always comes through.

Our first primary way God sends reassurance is through circumstances.

Secondly, when doubts arise God enables us to be…

2. Reassured by opportunity vv. 17-22

When we have a mission, a calling from God, opportunities to speak of Him are essential.

As we have journeyed through the book of Acts there have been many times we noted the importance of recognizing opportunities as they come.

After a time of trial and difficulty there can be doubt and frustration.

We need to be reassured that we are still where God wants us to be.

Our mission needs to confirmed.

God may provide this reassurance, this confirmation through gospel opportunities.

That is what we see here as Paul finally arrives in Rome.

God grants to Paul two opportunities for reassurance.

Opportunity #1. Reassured…

a. Through explanation vv. 17-19

READ v. 17

Paul only waits three days before he calls the Jewish leaders together.

Throughout the book of Acts, Paul’s normal practice has been to head to the Jewish Synagogue as soon as he arrives in a new city.

Being unable to attend the Synagogue, Paul brings it to him.

It states that he “called” them together. The idea is that he summoned them.

From this we can gather that he is still a man of status and stature among the Jews.

God is using Paul’s influence to provide this opportunity for explanation.

When we’ve just come through a trial, having a chance to explain can be a great confirmation of our mission. It reassures us.

Paul is declaring his innocence in everything that has taken place.

Notice how specific he is being. He did nothing against the people or the customs.

This is an important statement because of the accusation made against him back in ch. 21:27-29. Turn there please.

Acts 21:27–29 NKJV

27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

The accusation was that he taught against Israel, against the Law, and against the Temple. They also claimed he had brought Greeks into the temple.

Paul’s statement here directly contradicts what he was accused of.

Furthermore, his innocence was recognized by the Romans.

READ v. 18

The Romans conducted an official investigation into these accusations. Not just once, or twice, but on three separate occasions by two governors and a king!

That was recorded for us in .

The uniform conclusion of these various rulers was that Paul was innocent and should be released.

As Paul states here, they saw no reason to put him to death.

The problem was, the Jews didn’t want Paul released.

READ v. 19

Paul felt that the behavior of the Jews demanded his appeal.

He had no choice.

He was innocent, the Roman courts had recognized this, but his fellow Jews kept pushing for him to be tried in Jerusalem so their assassins could kill him on the way.

Paul didn’t appeal to Cesar so he could get back at the Jews. He appealed to Cesar for two reasons. 1 - For protection. 2 - For opportunity.

We need to be reminded what the Lord told Paul back in 23:11 (S).

Acts 23:11 NKJV

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

Paul is in Rome at God’s direction and through obedience to Him.

This opportunity to meet with the Jewish leaders in Rome is a conformation of Paul’s mission.

God sent him here. God has now given him an opportunity to explain his situation.

When difficulties and trials arise, opportunities to explain them are a blessing.

As we explain to others what has taken place it helps us to grasp what God is doing.

We see the big picture as we remember God’s leading and see His sovereign hand in our circumstances.

Presenting the truth confirms our mission.

Paul’s mission is confirmed as he explains his arrest and appeal to the Jewish leaders.

That is his first opportunity for reassurance.

Opportunity #2. Reassured…

b. Through invitation vv. 20-22

READ v. 20

Paul called the leaders together so he could see and speak with them.

He wanted this chance to explain.

He is not a wrongdoer. He is not against Israel. He has no desire to harm them. He is not against the law or Jewish customs.

Why then is he in this situation?

He explains that here.

I love the end of this verse. He is bound for the hope of Israel.

If that isn’t confirmation of his mission, I don’t know what is.

This word “hope” refers to a confident expectation.

What is the confident expectation of the nation of Israel?

The answer to this question is found in prophecy.

(S).

Micah 5:2 NKJV

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

The One who will be ruler! The eternal God! That is their hope. Their expectation.

(S).

Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

A King is coming! He is just and brings salvation. He comes to Israel riding on a donkey.

(S).

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

This promised one would be born of a virgin and would be called “God with us.”

Who was born in Bethlehem? Jesus ()! That makes Him eternal God!

Who was born in Bethlehem? Jesus! That makes Him eternal God!

Who entered Jerusalem on a donkey? Jesus ()! That makes Him Israel’s King and Savior!

Who was born of a virgin? Jesus ()! That makes Him God in the flesh!

The hope of Israel is the Messiah. The one promised all the way back in Genesis 3.

I love the end of this verse. He is bound for the hope of Israel. What is Israel’s hope? Jesus Christ!

What is Israel’s hope? Jesus Christ!

That is why Paul is in prison.

He is in prison because the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem rejected their Messiah!

That rejection took Paul on three missionary journeys to the Gentiles.

That rejection spread the gospel to the world.

Now it has taken Paul to Rome where he has an opportunity to introduce some Jewish leaders to their hope.

READ v. 21

They are basically telling Paul that they haven’t heard anything about all this.

The interesting note here is that no one they have been in contact with spoke badly of Paul.

Believers should live in such a way that our enemies

This is how believers ought to live. To where even our enemies don’t have anything bad to say about us.

Really quickly let’s look at three passages that emphasize this. ; ; (S).

; ; (S).

; ;

1 Peter 2:12 NKJV

12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 3:16 NKJV

16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

James 3:13 NKJV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

What would our enemies say of us?

Also seen here is the sovereign hand of God in limiting their exposure to all Paul has been through.

The result of this limitation is that they are open to hearing from Paul.

READ v. 22

Talk about a God ordained moment!

v. 22 – Talk about a God ordained moment! They ask Paul to tell them about Christianity! That’s like handing him a present!

They are asking Paul to tell them about Christianity! That’s like handing him a present!

All they know is that everyone is talking against Christianity, but they don’t know what it is.

They want to hear what Paul thinks about it.

Paul is being given the chance to preach the gospel only days after his arrival in Rome!

If that isn’t confirmation of his mission, I don’t know what is.

Invitations to give the gospel confirm our mission.

Paul arrives in Rome and is given immediate reassurance and confirmation.

This is where God wants him. This is where he needs to be.

Wait, isn’t he in prison? Yes. But that is where God has placed him, and that is where he will be used.

You may be in the midst of difficult circumstances. If that is where God has placed you, that is where He will use you.

Look for opportunities.

Conclusion

God confirms our mission.

In times of trial, difficulty, and conflict, we need reassurance that we are on the right path.

Sometimes God sends reassurance through our circumstances.

Removal of difficulty, fellowship with believers, and miraculous provision are only some of the ways God reassures us.

Sometimes God sends reassurance through opportunities.

Being able to explain what we are going through and being able to witness can be used by God for reassurance.

The bottom line in all of this is the reality that God has a reason, plan, and purpose for all things.

He is in control.

Each of us have been called by God to serve Him.

As we serve we will face trials. There will be hard times.

We will endure circumstances that make us question and doubt.

In those moments God sends reassurance.

When we need to know we are where we need to be, God confirms our mission.

You may be here and you are in that season of doubt.

Look up. God will confirm your mission.

Maybe you are here and you are saying, “I don’t think I have a mission!”

Let me ask you a question. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ? Have you placed your faith in Him alone for salvation?

If not, I want to invite you to trust Him today. All you have to do is say “Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I know that I cannot save myself. I am placing my trust in you and your finished work on the Cross. I believe that you died, that you were buried, and that you rose again. Forgive me for my sin. Save me now in Jesus name, Amen.” If you genuinely believe those words, you are saved.

We have a mission.

Our mission is three-fold.

To glorify God. To grow in our faith. To spread the gospel.

To grow in our faith.

To spread the gospel.

As we seek to fulfill our mission there will be opposition.

I want to close with a challenge, a reminder, and a promise.

Challenge:

Take courage.

We have not been given a spirit of fear! We have the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

God’s will and way is perfect. Be bold.

Reminder:

The battle is the Lord’s.

We already know how this story ends.

Jesus wins. No matter what we face in this life that reality will not change!

Promise:

Serve faithfully and He will continually confirm the mission.

We just need to recognize the confirmation He gives.

PRAY

“In Jesus Name”

Acts 28:11–22 NKJV

11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. 17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have 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 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” 21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

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