Acts 28

Acts 28:1-10

80. THE OF THE NATURAL MAN Acts 28:1-10 In Acts 28 we find Paul and those who had been sailing with him on the Island of Melita. That island today is called Malta. It is found between Sicily and Africa, about 60 miles off the coast of Sicily. The ship in which they were sailing was torn to pieces in a furious storm. But, according to the promise of God, all 276 men, passengers and crew, were safe on land. The survivors of the storm were drenched, weary, and cold, but they were alive! Divine providence had brought them to the Island of Malta because God was determined to be gracious to the Maltese people. Some of his elect were on the island who must be called by the preaching of the gospel. Therefore, God, who has his way in the whirlwind, directed the path of this hurricane to bring Paul to Malta. Here is another incidental, but marvellous illustration of the fact that “all things work together for good to them who love God (even before they come to love him), to them who are the called, according to his purpose (even before they are called)” (Romans 8:28). The Maltese people are described by Luke as “barbarians”. That does not necessarily mean that they were uncivilized, though that might also have been true. The word simply means that they were not Greeks, Romans, or Jews. They did not conform to the customs of these three dominant societies and did not speak their language. It does not appear that God had ever before sent these barbarians a gospel preacher. Yet, they were naturally religious people. Their religion, as we see in this passage, made them both moral and charitable. It had a good effect upon them. They had nothing but the light of nature. But they walked in the light they had.

Yet, they were lost, perishing men and women without the light of the gospel and the knowledge of Christ. Their religion restrained and, in measure, outwardly corrected the natural depravity of their hearts. But it could not save them. Natural religion, that which is learned and acquired by conscience and nature, cannot save. In order for lost men and women to be saved they must be brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the gospel. As we look at Paul’s encounter with the men of Malta, we are plainly taught six very important lessons. First, WHEN GOD INTENDS TO SAVE SINNERS, HE ALWAYS SENDS THEM A GOSPEL (Acts 28:1). There is an elect multitude in this world who must be saved. All who were chosen by God the Father in eternity and redeemed by God the Son at Calvary must be regenerated and called by God the Holy Spirit at the appointed time of love. All God’s elect must be saved (John 6:37-45; John 10:16; Romans 11:26). Not only has God ordained the salvation of his people, he has also ordained the means by which it shall be accomplished; and God’s appointed means of grace is the preaching of the gospel. Sinners are saved by hearing and believing the gospel of Christ (John 6:40; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 1:21; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25).

God never bypasses his ordained means of grace. If he intends to save a sinner, by one means or another, he will cause that sinner to hear the gospel. There are many illustrations of this fact in the Book of Acts (Acts 8:26-27; Acts 9:10-18; Acts 10:1-48; Acts 16:9-15; Acts 16:19-34). In Acts 28, we see God’s hand of providence graciously arranging all things to bring Paul to Malta, so that he might preach the gospel to the elect among the barbarians there. Though the inhabitants of Malta knew it not, they were highly favored of God. By sending the hurricane that must have terrified them all, and perhaps killed many of the islanders, God had blessed them above all people.

He used that hurricane to plant a gospel preacher in their midst (Isaiah 52:7). Let us carefully apply this to ourselves. Knowing that God has ordained the salvation of sinners by the preaching of the gospel, every believer ought to make it his business (by personal witness, distributing tracts, tapes, books, etc. and by the support of faithful ministries) to preach the gospel to all. And all who care for their souls should seize every opportunity to hear the gospel preached. Second, ALL MEN BY NATURE ARE (Acts 28:2-6). God has by creation given all men a consciousness of his Being, which they cannot escape (Romans 1:18-20). These men of Malta, though they were unlearned barbarians, displayed a certain natural religious creed. They knew that there is a God who governs the world. Their language displayed an awareness of the Creator’s dominion of the universe. They did not know God.

But they knew God is! They also knew that God is holy, righteous, and just. When they saw the snake hanging on Paul’s hand, they concluded instinctively that God had judged him. These Maltese barbarians knew that God punishes sin. Though they had never heard or read the Book of God, the law of God was inscribed on their hearts (Romans 2:13-15). They knew that murder was a horrible crime and that no man can escape the justice of God.

All men are religious, but… Third, THE OF NATURAL MEN IS ALWAYS . This is the reason why no one can be saved without the preaching of the gospel. No matter how sincere a man is. Without the revelation of Christ in the gospel, he gropes about in the blindness of his own depraved heart and the darkness of religious superstition, idolatry, and will worship. The men of Malta ignorantly supposed that those who suffer evil things are evil people. They presumed that a person’s acceptance with God is determined by his own personal goodness. Free-will, works religion is the religion of all lost men. It is the religion of the depraved, fallen sons of Adam. It is always fickle because it is ruled, not by the Word of God, but by emotion and experience (Acts 28:5-6). Fourth, IT IS EVIDENT FROM THIS PASSAGE THAT ANYONE WHO WALKS IN THE LIGHT GOD GIVES HIM WILL BE GIVEN MORE LIGHT. These men had nothing but the light of nature. Yet, they honestly walked in that light which God had given them. At his own appointed time, God gave them the light of life. Evangelist Rolfe Barnard used to say, “God won’t send honest people to hell.” And he was right. If a person despises the light God gives him, the light he has will be turned into darkness (Matthew 6:23). But if a person walks in and obeys the light God gives him, God will give him greater light (Isaiah 2:5; 1 John 1:7). No one will ever seek to know God and perish in ignorance of him! Fifth, another thing evident in this passage is the fact that ANY MAN CALLED OF GOD TO PREACH THE GOSPEL WILL BE BY GOD AS HIS . God’s servants do not promote themselves, or call attention to themselves. Paul was not looking for snakes to handle. He was gathering firewood. If he could not serve the souls of men by preaching to them, he was glad to serve their bodies. By his condition as a prisoner, Paul was the most contemptible man in the crowd. But God providentially distinguished him from the others and caused men to pay attention to him. The Lord often uses two-legged snakes, who are determined to destroy the influence of his servants, as the very means by which he increases their usefulness; just as he used the viper that bit Paul to open the door of utterance before him. Sixth, this passage exemplifies the fact that THOSE WHO HONOR GOD WILL BE HONORED BY GOD (Acts 28:7-10). It appears that after hearing Paul preach the gospel, a very prominent man, Publius, believed on the Lord Jesus. He graciously received Paul and his companions into his house and lodged them. Having received a prophet in the name of a prophet, he received a prophet’s reward (Matthew 10:41). When his father came down with a deadly fever, there was a prophet in his house with the power of God to heal him and all others who had need of healing. Those who faithfully served Paul were faithfully served by Paul.

But, more importantly, those who honored and served God’s servant were honored and served by God himself (1 Samuel 2:30). All who are wise will apply to themselves the exhortation Paul gave in this regard (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

Acts 28:11-16

81. “WE FOUND " Acts 28:11-16 All God’s saints in heaven and on earth are one church, one kingdom, and one family. “There is no doubt,” wrote A. A. Hodge, “but that if there be but one God, there is but one church; if there be but one Christ, there is but one church; if there be but one cross, there is but one church; if there be but one Holy Ghost, there is but one church.” All the members of that one, universal church are brothers and sisters in Christ (Ephesians 3:15). In Christ, all true believers of all ages and all places are one (Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:11). All have the same Father. All have been adopted by the same, eternal, electing love.

All have been redeemed by the same precious blood. All are called by the same Holy Spirit. All have the same Elder Brother. All are saved by the same grace. All are heirs to the same inheritance. All are married to the same Husband, members of the same body, and united to the same Head.

Christ is not divided. And his body, the church, is not divided. All true believers are one in him.One of the greatest blessings God’s saints possess on this earth and one of the greatest joys of heaven is the fellowship of brethren. As we follow Paul and his companions from Malta to Rome, let us observe how precious his brethren were to him and learn from him to love and esteem one another as brethren in Christ. PAUL WAS FROM HIS AT MALTA (Acts 28:11). After being cast upon the island of Malta, Paul’s preaching was obviously blessed of God to the conversion of some, perhaps many. Those who were converted became very gracious and generous. They highly valued the man who was used of God to bring the gospel of Christ to them (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15). All winter long they lodged and fed Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus, highly honoring them as the servants of God. Paul had ministered to their spiritual needs. Therefore, they thought it only right that they should take care of his physical, material needs (1 Corinthians 9:9-11; Galatians 6:6). When the time came for Paul to leave Malta, these Maltese brethren supplied him and his friends with everything needed for their journey to Rome.

God graciously provided his shipwrecked servants the refreshing consolation of newborn brethren among a barbarian people. What a tender parting their separation must have been! The young converts of Malta stand as examples to all believers in their generosity and esteem for God’s servants. All who are privileged to sit under the ministry of a faithful gospel preacher should highly esteem that man for his work’s sake (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) and generously support him, supplying his material needs (Galatians 6:6). The Lord Jesus Christ considers that which is done to his servants as being done to him (Matthew 10:40-41). God’s servants are not hirelings. They do not preach for gain. But the laborer is worthy of his pay (Luke 10:7).

No man going to war should entangle himself with the affairs of this world (2 Timothy 2:4). No servant of God seeks material wealth. But it is only reasonable for those for whom he labors to provide for his daily needs with sufficient generosity so that he has no earthly, material concern for himself and his family. This generosity should extend beyond the local church caring for its own pastor. As we have opportunity, it is our responsibility to use our financial means to provide for faithful men everywhere so that they may give themselves entirely to the business of the gospel ministry. Acts 28:11 gives us yet another incidental lesson about divine providence. Luke tells us that they sailed away from Malta on another ship from Alexandria. The ship which had been wrecked in the storm was also from Alexandria (Acts 27:6). Here are two ships, both from Alexandria, both going to Rome, both caught in a horrible storm. One of the ships sailed safely to Malta. The other was completely destroyed.

The interesting point is this - The ship that sailed safely through the storm carried a crew of ungodly pagans who sailed under the sign of Caster and Pollux, gods of the sea! The ship that was wrecked, whose passengers and crew were cast out into the cold winter sea, carried some men who were beloved servants of God. It is no accident that Luke records this. The Holy Spirit intends for us to constantly be aware of the fact that favorable providence is no indication of God’s favor, and providential hardships are no indications of his displeasure. God wrecked Paul whom he loved so that he might open the door for him to preach to a band of chosen Maltese barbarians. He left the other ship, loaded with men for whom he had no gracious designs, without disturbance or harm.

Pity the people whom God leaves alone! Read Psalms 72:1-18; Psalms 92:1-15 and thank God for his special providence, even when it brings you through bitter storms and freezing winter waters! AFTER LEAVING THEIR AT MALTA, PAUL, LUKE, AND FOUND AT PUTEOLI (Acts 28:12-14). On the way to Rome, their ship docked for three days at Syracuse in Sicily and for a day at Rhegium. Apparently it was a trading vessel making its regular stops. Then they came to Puteoli, a city near Naples. From there Paul, his friends, and the soldiers would travel to Rome by land. But at Puteoli, Luke says, “We found brethren.” Apparently, Paul had found favor in the eyes of the centurion who guarded him.

He treated Paul with exceptional kindness, allowing him a great deal of liberty. The first thing Paul did when he came to Puteoli was search out and find the people who worshipped God there, his brethren (Acts 28:14). How these people heard the gospel we are not told. But here, too, God had his elect. Persecution had scattered God’s saints all over the Roman world. And whenever believers were scattered, the leaven of the gospel was spread.

Paul made it his business to find those who worshipped God wherever he went. It was as natural for him to do so as it would be for any man passing through a town to look up his relatives who live there. The saints of God are a family. The blood that unites us is the blood of Christ. Paul looked up his brethren because he needed their fellowship. Sheep are social creatures.

They do not like to be alone. They always run in flocks. The only time they are alone is when they are either sick or lost. Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus had been sailing for five days among ungodly, reprobate men with whom they had nothing in common. But at Puteoli they found brethren and were refreshed. Once they met these redeemed sinners they fell in love with one another immediately.

The brethren at Puteoli constrained Paul and his companions to stay with them for seven days. They wanted God’s servants to stay over at least one Sunday so that all the church could meet them and hear them preach the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ. THE FROM ROME WHO CAME OUT TO MEET PAUL GREATLY HIM (Acts 28:15). By one means or another the saints at Rome heard that Paul, who had written to them long before, came out to meet him. They had never met before, except in spirit. Yet, they showed great love for God’s servant. They were of the same family. They all loved the same Savior.

So they loved each other. Paul thanked God for them and was encouraged by them. They seem to have cheered and inspired the old warrior for the battles he was yet to face. Someone said, “A church should be a fellowship of encouragement.” That is exactly what these Roman believers were to Paul. Here is an interesting sidelight - The word translated “meet” in Acts 28:15 is also found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where we are given a beautiful picture of the resurrection of God’s saints. When Christ comes again, the dead in Christ will rise first and we who are alive shall be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air that we may return with him to his new creation! AT LAST, PAUL WAS AS A TO ROME (Acts 28:16). He came to Rome as a prisoner because of his faithfulness to God. There by God’s providence, he was given great liberty to preach the gospel, dwelling in a rented house with a guard constantly at his side. At last, Paul had come to Rome to preach the gospel. It seems to have mattered little to him that he came as the prisoner of Rome. As far as he was concerned, he had come there as the prisoner of Jesus Christ by the will of God. He seized the opportunity now set before him to preach the gospel and to write a good portion of the New Testament. Knowing that God had brought him there and that God would use him there, Paul was content, even in Rome (Philippians 4:12). Would you be?

Acts 28:17-20

82. “THE HOPE OF ISRAEL” Acts 28:17-20 Three days after he was delivered to Rome as a prisoner, Paul called the Jews of Rome together. Though despised and abused by them, he never failed to demonstrate genuine compassion for his countrymen. It was ever his prayer and heart’s desire for Israel that they might be saved (Romans 10:1). Such compassion for those nearest us is exemplary. It is not selfishness, but the most reasonable expression of love to seek salvation and eternal life in Christ for those God has placed in the nearest relationship to us. If a man does not use his influence to reach those who are most under his influence, he is not likely to earnestly seek the salvation of others.

If God does not save those whom we naturally love, we must not murmur and complain. He is sovereign. It is his right to do what he will and to give salvation to whom he will. However, knowing full well that none deserve God’s mercy, it would be barbaric for us to let any perish without seeking the salvation of their souls. Once he called these Jews together, Paul told them exactly why he had been brought to Rome as a prisoner. He had broken no law, cast no reproach upon the Jewish nation, and done nothing in violation of the Holy Scriptures. Paul assured the Jews of his innocence, hoping that they might more readily receive his message. He wanted to remove from their minds anything that might keep them from hearing the gospel he preached. Then, in Acts 28:20, he told them why he had been arrested and brought to Rome and why he had called them together to speak to them. Paul had been arrested and was now a prisoner at Rome for only one reason - Preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He had proclaimed to men “the hope of Israel”. He had frankly declared to men that one of whom all the prophets spoke, in whom all the promises of God must be fulfilled, in whom Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the saints of the Old Testament hoped and for whom they waited, the Messiah, the King, the Son of David, the Seed of Abraham, the true Prophet, the true Priest, the true Sacrifice, the true Redeemer of Israel has come, and he is Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. For preaching this Christ, Paul stood before these men a prisoner in chains. He had called these Jews together so that he could preach Christ to them. In this passage, Paul identifies the Lord Jesus Christ as “the hope of Israel”. That is a subject that needs to be understood. WHO IS ISRAEL? Though Paul was addressing men who were by physical birth the descendants of Abraham, they were not part of that Israel of whom Paul spoke. They had no faith in Christ. They were Jews outwardly, but not inwardly. They were a part of the physical nation of Israel. But they were not part of that “holy nation” called “the Israel of God”.

Be sure you understand this - The promises of God’s covenant and the blessings of his grace were never intended for Abraham’s natural seed. Grace does not come by natural descent. Mercy does not run in families, neither to Jews nor to Gentiles (John 1:11-13; Romans 9:16). Many imagine that the Jews as a nation and race have a special claim upon God’s promises and that God deals with them in a special way. That is a myth. It is entirely contrary to the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ.

It is plainly written in Holy Scripture that there are no promises to natural Israel that God has not fulfilled. He fulfilled them all a long, long time ago. Read Joshua 21:44-45. God gave Israel alone the gospel in the Old Testament, under the types and shadows of the law. Then God sent his Son to preach to them. Even after they crucified the Lord of glory, our Savior, sent his apostles to the Jews first.

But after that nation despised Christ and his gospel, in righteous judgment God destroyed them (Matthew 22:1-7). In great mercy, he sent his gospel to the Gentiles that he might gather his elect (his Israel) from the four corners of the earth. This has always been his purpose (Acts 28:26-28; Romans 11:25-26). The physical seed of Abraham are not the special, chosen people of God. The Scriptures are crystal clear in this regard (Romans 2:28; Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 4:22-28). All who believe the gospel of Christ, Jews and Gentiles of every age, are “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16). Every true believer is a child of Abraham, an Israelite indeed (Romans 2:29; Galatians 3:6-7; Philippians 3:3). The blessing of Abraham comes to men by the redeeming blood of Christ and the saving power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14). The characteristics of God’s Israel are not physical, but spiritual. Being circumcised in their hearts, they worship God in the Spirit, trust Christ alone as their Savior, and have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:11). Like Abraham, they believe God (John 8:39). All the promises and blessings of God’s covenant and grace belong to all the Israel of God, all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 3:13-18; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 1:3-6; Ephesians 2:11-14; 2 Timothy 1:9). WHY IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CALLED “THE HOPE OF ISRAEL”? Paul called him by this title because the prophets referred to the Messiah by this title (Jeremiah 14:8; Jeremiah 17:13; Joe 3:16). And he is called by this title because all the Israel of God recognize that Christ alone is our hope of everlasting salvation (1 Timothy 1:1; Colossians 1:27). Every believer looks to Christ in faith, hoping for (expecting) grace, salvation, and eternal glory in him (Romans 8:24-25). We understand and rejoice in the fact that he is our salvation (Luke 2:30; Romans 8:33-39). The whole work of salvation was finished for us by Christ’s obedience to God in life and in death (John 17:4; John 19:28-30).

It is complete and perfect in him (Colossians 2:10). And this salvation that is in Christ alone is the free gift of God’s grace bestowed upon every sinner who, like Abraham, believes God (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). Every true Israelite, every true believer, lives by faith in Christ in the hope and expectation of eternal life. We have it now; but we do not yet enjoy the full perfection of it. We are not yet in heaven. We have not yet been glorified. But believing Christ, we have confidence that we shall be (Titus 2:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:1-3). When the Lord Jesus Christ comes again, the whole Israel of God shall be raised in his likeness! WHAT DOES ISRAEL HOPE TO OBTAIN FROM CHRIST? Believing him, we hope to obtain everything that Christ, our God-man Mediator, is and everything he has obtained from God as the reward of his obedience. I fully believe that there is nothing that Christ is, in his mediatorial capacity, and nothing that he has obtained that we shall not be and have. We shall never share his divinity. We will not become God! But all that his glorious humanity is and has, we shall be and have by virtue of our union with him (John 17:5; John 17:22).

It is not yet seen. But this is that for which we hope (Romans 8:17-18; Romans 8:24-25). He is freed from all sin, perfectly righteous and holy, perfectly satisfied, completely at rest, in perfect harmony with the triune God, possessing all things! All of that we shall be when he makes all things new! WHAT IS THE BASIS OF ISRAEL’S HOPE? Read Lamentations 3:21-26. The old prophet cries, “This I recall to my mind. Therefore have I hope.” Then he tells us what his hope is: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Here are two things we must do who have hope in God’s mercies, compassions, faithfulness, and goodness. We must live a while longer in hope. Hope can see heaven through the thickest clouds. Hope is the mother of patience. If we live in hope, expecting God to do what he has promised he will do, we will “quietly (patiently) wait for the salvation of the Lord”. Nothing can greatly disturb the peace of one who lives in hope. He is waiting for the salvation of the Lord!

Acts 28:21-24

83. “SOME AND SOME NOT” Acts 28:21-24 Wherever Paul went, he had but one errand. He was a gospel preacher, a messenger, an ambassador sent from God with a message to deliver to eternity bound sinners. Being “separated unto the gospel” (Romans 1:1), he allowed nothing to turn him aside from his great work, not even imprisonment! He was sent of God to deliver the message of redemption and grace in Christ to perishing souls. He considered nothing to be of equal importance. Being God’s messenger, his message was always the same.

His subject, his theme never changed. He was determined to know nothing among men except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). He considered it his solemn duty, whenever and wherever he preached, to preach the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:16). He was a man of one subject. He was radically, fanatically committed to that one subject. He preached Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Whatever ability he possessed, whenever he had opportunity, this great exemplary preacher expounded to men and women the doctrine of the cross (Galatians 6:14). In the passage before us, Luke gives us an example both of the great apostle’s message and his method of preaching. PAUL . “He expounded both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets.” All true preaching involves the faithful exposition of Holy Scripture. Preaching is not the exposition of a creed or confession of faith. That is denominational indoctrination. Preaching is declaring with simplicity and clarity that which is written in Holy Scripture. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17). It is not possible for anyone to trust the Lord Jesus Christ until he is taught of God. And the method by which God teaches chosen sinners is the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23-25).

It is the responsibility of those who preach the gospel to unfold the wondrous mysteries of the gospel, faithfully expounding the message of the Bible. Many preachers and teachers like to dazzle their hearers with their knowledge and understanding of facts and times and their ability to answer foolish questions and unravel the knots of endless genealogies. God’s servants studiously avoid getting caught up in that snare of the devil (2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9). Those men who are faithful to God, faithful to the souls of men, and faithful to the Word of God expound the message of Scripture. Essentially, the message of the Bible is threefold. The first message of the Bible is a message of ruin, the total spiritual ruin of our race by the sin and fall of our father Adam (Romans 5:12). What happened in the garden? Let a man find the answer to that question and he will have little difficulty understanding anything else in the Bible. Adam was much more than the progenitor of our race. He was, by God’s decree, the federal head and representative of all men. God made Adam in his own image, holy and righteous, and gave him dominion over all the works of his hands.

Adam and his children might have lived forever in that happy condition, had he simply lived in the acknowledgement of God’s righteous dominion over him. God gave Adam everything except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17). That one tree stood as a constant reminder to Adam of God’s rightful, sovereign dominion. You know what happened. Adam did not stand in his uprightness. In time, his heart swelled with pride.

He could not stand the thought of God being God. Because of his pride, he stole the fruit of God’s tree. By that act, Adam attempted to usurp God’s authority and dominion as God. Immediately he died spiritually, came under the curse of legal death, began to die physically, and became liable to eternal death in hell; and so did we! When Adam sinned, we sinned in him. When he died, we died.

Now we all bear the image of our father Adam. All the sons of Adam are born sinners, rebels against God, going astray as soon as they are born speaking lies (Psalms 51:5; Psalms 58:3; Romans 3:9-19; Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:1-3). This is the doctrine of total depravity. It simply means man is so sinful and so completely helpless in spiritual death that he is incapable of changing his condition, or even assisting in the change of his condition before God (Jeremiah 13:23; Jeremiah 17:9). “Man is a double dyed villain. He is originally corrupted by nature and afterwards by practice” (A. H.

Strong). The second message of the Bible is a message of redemption, redemption by the precious blood of Christ, the second Adam (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 1 Peter 2:24). Thank God there is a second Adam, another representative Man, another Substitute! In exactly the same way that all men were made sinners by Adam’s disobedience, all God’s elect are made righteous by Christ’s obedience unto death as their Substitute (Romans 5:17-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). By his obedience to the law as our Representative, Christ brought in perfect righteousness, which is imputed to all who trust him. By that righteousness, we are completely justified in God’s sight (Jeremiah 23:6; Romans 3:28-31; Romans 4:21-25). Our works have nothing to do with our righteousness.

We are justified by his work being imputed to us. By pouring out his life’s blood unto death, our Savior made a complete atonement for sin, satisfying the justice of God for all who believe on him (Romans 3:24-26). Now, God freely forgives all who trust his Son, justly removing from us both the guilt of sin and the curse of the law (John 3:14-18; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:33-34). The third message of the Bible is a message of regeneration, regeneration by the irresistible grace and power of God the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-4). This is the new birth. It is not something God offers. It is something God does. Eternal life is the gift of God. The fruit and result of the new birth, this gift of life, is faith in Christ. In order for dead sinners to live, they must be given life. And when God creates life in us, he also creates faith in us (Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:12). PAUL AS WELL AS . As he expounded the message of Holy Scripture, “He testified the kingdom of God.” He told his hearers how he had experienced the transforming power and grace of God on the Damascus road. He told his conversion experience so often that I imagine Luke and anyone else who frequently heard him preach knew it as well as he did (Acts 9:1-22; Acts 22:1-16; Acts 26:9-19). He never tired of telling what God had done for him. Grace experienced in the heart is a tale worth telling and worth hearing. Someone once said, “No man can really preach anything until he has experienced it.” And the man who has experienced grace will preach it. THIS , WAS . When Paul preached, he was “persuading them concerning Jesus.” He pressed upon his hearers the claims of Christ in the gospel, urging them to trust him as Savior and Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11). “And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” That is always the result of gospel preaching (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Three things need to be understood from this fact: (1) The salvation of sinners is not determined by the gifts, abilities, and power of the preacher. Those who believed heard the same preacher as those who believed not. (2) Those who believe the gospel do so because God, who willed it from eternity, gives them faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Read your Bible. Faith is not the work of man’s free will, but the gift of God’s sovereign grace (John 1:12-13; John 3:8; Romans 9:16-18; Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 2:8; Colossians 2:12). (3) Those who believe not, believe not because they will not come to Christ and be saved by free grace alone through the merits of his blood and righteousness (John 5:40).

If any sinner is saved, it is God’s fault and the result of God’s work alone. If any sinner is damned, it is his fault and the result of his work alone. No one is saved because of what he does; and no one is lost because of what God does. Salvation is God’s work. Destruction is man’s work.

Acts 28:23-29

84. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE REJECT THE GOSPEL? Acts 28:23-29“When they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging.” It is not at all uncommon for preachers to go to jails and prisons to preach the gospel of Christ to the inmates. But here are men, religious men and their leaders, who were summoned by a prisoner that he might preach the gospel to them! “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.” Paul explained to these men from the Scriptures and his own heart’s experience, the nature of God’s kingdom. He showed them that, contrary to what they had always been taught, the kingdom of God is not an outward, carnal, earthly empire in which Jews rule the world, but an inward, spiritual, heavenly dominion of hearts and lives by the Lord Jesus Christ. Entrance into the kingdom of God is not by birth, but by the new birth (John 3:3-7). The kingdom of God is not a kingdom of pomp and ceremony, but of purity and conversion. Paul also persuaded these men that Jesus is the Christ.

Appealing to the Scriptures, his own experience, and reason, he gave irrefutable proof that the crucified Man of Nazareth is indeed the Christ, the Son of God. He told them of the Savior’s eternal deity, his incarnation, and life of obedience, his death as the sinners’ Substitute, and his resurrection, ascension, and exaltation as Lord of all.

He carefully explained to them the glorious gospel doctrine of salvation by grace through Christ, the sinners’ Substitute. He showed them how that the Son of God brought in everlasting righteousness by his obedience to God as a Man and made atonement for chosen sinners by his death upon the cursed tree. He told them of Christ’s dominion as a Priest upon the throne, his heavenly intercession, and his glorious second advent. Paul urged these men, his kinsman, to repent, to trust Christ and be saved by his grace. But when the sermon was over, “some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” Christ is set for the fall of some and the rising again of others. To some he is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence.

To others he is the sure Foundation Stone and the Rock of Salvation. Our Lord Jesus came not to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34).

This is the sword of division that he brings. Some believe the gospel when they hear it and some blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. The light is set before them, but they shut their eyes. The truth is proclaimed to them, but they stop their ears. The love, mercy, grace, and glory of God in Jesus Christ is affectionately preached to them, but they harden their hearts. “And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word.” These men could not agree among themselves, but they had had enough of Paul’s doctrine. As they were getting up to leave in disgust and anger, Paul seems to have said, “Hold on, I have one more thing to tell you before you go.

I must tell you what the result of your obstinate unbelief will be.” Then we read, “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 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. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.” Because these Jews despised the light of the gospel and rejected the claims of Christ, God withdrew the light of the gospel from them and fixed it so that they could not come to Christ and be saved. Though they were still alive, these men were eternally damned! The lessons we are taught in this passage are of immense importance. THE CAUSE OF IS WILFUL , THE WILFUL OF TRUTH (Acts 28:25-27). The gospel promises, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). But anytime men and women hear the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and believe it not, they ar courting eternal reprobation (Luke 13:23-30). Reprobation is the judgment of God that falls upon men and women because of their wilful rejection of the gospel (Proverbs 1:23-33; Proverbs 29:1; Hosea 4:17; Matthew 21:28-46; Matthew 23:37-38). Like Pharaoh of old, these Jews hardened their hearts against the gospel of Christ. Therefore, God hardened their hearts in unbelief, as he said he would (Isaiah 6:9-10; Romans 11:8).

Prophet after prophet had been sent to them from one generation to another. At last, God sent one more apostle to preach Christ to them.

But “the heart of this people waxed gross!” Hardening their hearts against the message of free grace salvation through a crucified substitute, they refused to hear. “Their ears were dull of hearing.” Being convinced of the truthfulness of Paul’s message, but full of enmity toward God, they refused to bow to the claims of Christ. Proud, self-righteous men who will not deny their own merits and seek to be saved by trusting the merits of Christ, willfully shut their eyes to the glory of God in the face of Christ. “Their eyes have they closed” (Romans 9:31-33). Because these men willfully despised the gospel and rejected the claims of Christ in it, God left them alone. They would not believe. So God fixed it so that they could not believe. God will not trifle with those who trifle with his Son (Jeremiah 7:16).

Man’s condemnation is the result of wilful unbelief. Matthew Henry was exactly right when he warned, “Let all that hear the gospel, and do not heed it, tremble at this doom; for, when once they are given up to hardness of heart, they are already in the suburbs of hell!” Judicial reprobation is the just response of God to man’s wilful suppression and rejection of undeniable, revealed truth (Romans 1:18-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). GOD’S METHOD OF GRACE IS ALWAYS THE SAME (Acts 28:27). Even as Paul announced terrible judgment upon the reprobate, he tells us plainly what God’s method of grace is. When God saves sinners, it is necessary that “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.” God never deviates from his ordained means of grace. (1.) The Lord God causes every sinner whom he intends to save to hear the gospel of Christ. God does not save his elect apart from the preaching of the gospel. Faith is not a leap in the dark. It is the response of the heart to the Word of God.

By one means or another, God will cause the chosen to be instructed in the gospel. Yes, God could save his people without the use of human instrumentality. There is no question about that. But he has chosen not to do so (Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 1:23; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25). (2.) Through the preaching of the Word, by the power of his Holy Spirit, God causes chosen sinners to “see with their eyes,” to see the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation comes by divine revelation (Galatians 1:15-16). No one will trust Christ until they see him, until he is revealed in them by the power and grace of God the Holy Spirit.

And all who see him are irresistibly drawn to him (Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 13:1). (3.) God saves sinners by giving them understanding hearts. By his Spirit, God teaches his elect all things necessary to life and faith in Christ (John 6:44-45; 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27). (4.) When God saves a sinner by his grace, he converts him. The grace of God that brings salvation causes rebels to bow before his throne as willing servants. Grace conquers the will, subdues the passions, and reconciles the heart to God (1 Thessalonians 1:4-10). (5.) When God saves sinners, he heals them of the deadly plague of their hearts. That is to say, he causes the dead to live, delivering them from the bondage, dominion, and death of sin (Ezekiel 16:8). GOD’S PURPOSE OF GRACE IS (Acts 28:28). We grieve to see multitudes perish by their own obstinence and wilful unbelief. But we rejoice to know that man’s unbelief does not defeat or in anyway alter the purpose of God (Romans 3:3-4). “The foundation of God standeth sure!” Though he withdraws his goodness from the unbelieving reprobate, there is an elect people in this world to whom the gospel must be sent. And they will believe on Christ (Isaiah 56:8; John 10:16). All the Israel of God must be saved (Romans 11:26). Frequently, the unbelief of some is the instrumental cause of faith in others by the wise arrangement of God’s sovereign providence (Romans 11:11; Romans 11:25-26; Romans 11:33-36). All who were chosen by God the Father in eternity, were redeemed by God the Son at Calvary, and shall be called by God the Spirit at the appointed time of love.

Acts 28:30-31

85. PAUL’S LAST TWO YEARS Acts 28:30-31 The Spirit of God inspired Luke to describe Paul’s last two years in very simple, but instructive words. “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31). There are many traditions about Paul and his ministry after he came to Rome, but the Lord has told us nothing more than is contained in those two verses. Most likely, at the end of these two years, Paul was executed at Rome by Nero, dying as a martyr for Christ. In this study we will summarize the message of the Book of Acts, review Paul’s last two years as a prisoner at Rome, and draw some lessons from the things we have seen in the Book of Acts. THE BOOK OF ACTS FOCUSES OUR ON FIVE THINGS THAT MUST NEVER BE . Throughout these twenty-eight chapters, Luke draws our attention to these five things. Let us lay them to heart. (1) THE RULE OF CHRIST - Luke opens this brief history of the early church by declaring the ascension and exaltation of Christ as Lord over all things. Then he proceeds to show us how that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, rules the universe to accomplish his will. The abuses, imprisonments, persecutions, and hardships suffered by those early believers were constantly overruled by our Lord for the spiritual, eternal good of his church and for the salvation of his elect. Throughout these chapters, we have seen that all things worked together for good to them that loved God, to them who were the called, according to his purpose. The providential rule of Christ over all things sustained God’s children in confident hope through all they suffered and did for his name’s sake. Let all who trust Christ ever trust and rejoice in his sovereign rule of the universe.

If Christ who is our Head rules all things, then all is well. No matter how things may for the moment appear, our Savior is accomplishing his will, for his glory and our good in all things (John 17:2; Ephesians 1:20-23). (2) THE MISSION OF GOD’S CHURCH IN THIS WORLD - The church of Christ has been given a definite commission from him. It is our responsibility to carry out that commission. Our Lord said, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Every believer is a missionary sent of God to confess Christ to men, to carry the message of his greatness, grace, and glory to perishing sinners. Every local church is to be a preaching center from which the gospel of Christ is proclaimed to dying men. Let us renew our commitment to this cause.

As the early church went everywhere preaching that Jesus is Lord, let us give our lives to this cause. It is not the mission of God’s church to entertain the world, educate the world, heal the world, reform the world, or govern the world. Our singular mission from Christ is to preach the gospel to the world. (3) THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS - From the very beginning, God’s people have been persecuted by the world. As Cain persecuted Abel and Ishmael persecuted Isaac, the religious world persecuted the church of God in the earliest days of Christianity. The cause of persecution was the message the church declared - salvation by God’s free grace through Jesus Christ the Lord! Things are no different today. We do not experience the physical violence that our brethren endured in those days; but the message we preach is just as hated and despised by religionists today as it was when Peter and John were imprisoned and Stephen was stoned to death. The doctrine of the cross is an offense to man.

We must never expect unconverted men to love the truth of God. As the natural heart is enmity against God, the natural heart hates the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ. If we preach the gospel, we must not expect anything but wrath and persecution from those who despise the gospel. While the world stands, the offence of the cross will not cease (Galatians 5:11). (4) THE VITAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Our Lord said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” What he said of himself is equally true of God the Holy Spirit. We must have the Spirit of God! If the Holy Spirit does not work in us and by us, we can do nothing for the glory of Christ and the eternal good of men. As we read the book of Acts, we are constantly reminded that the ministry of the early church was the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. Let us ever seek his gracious wisdom, power, and grace upon us. If we would worship, pray, sing, or do anything for the glory of God, we must be motivated, guided, and governed by God the Holy Spirit. Without him, we can do nothing. (5) THE OF GOD’S PURPOSE - Throughout this book, we see the purpose of God being accomplished exactly as he would have it. Though all hell resists it, our God performs his will. He is not even slightly hindered by the opposition of men or of satan himself. “The foundation of God standeth sure!” Child of God, rejoice! Let nothing discourage you. Let nothing hinder you from doing the will of God. God is faithful. Our God will graciously accomplish his purpose in us and in all things for the glory of his own great name. These are the things we see constantly set before us in the book of Acts. May God keep them always before us and use them to sustain our hearts as we seek to serve his cause in this world. PAUL’S TWO YEARS OF AT ROME ARE FULL OF . Remember, Paul had done nothing wrong. He was a prisoner at Rome only because he would not be turned aside from what he knew God would have him to do (Acts 20:22-24; Acts 21:10-14). He was a prisoner for two years under Felix. His trip to Rome took at least a year. Then he was held prisoner at Rome for two more years.

In all, this faithful man was under constant guard for the last five years of his life. He looked upon his imprisonment as he did all other things, as an act of God’s wise and good providence. He knew that God had brought him to Rome in bonds for the furtherance of the gospel (Philippians 1:12-14). During these two years of imprisonment, Paul did not mope around complaining about how bad things were for him, or talk glowingly of all he had done for Christ, or dream about what he would do in better circumstances. Instead, he used the time and abilities God gave him for the glory of Christ, the good of immortal souls, and the furtherance of the gospel. While a prisoner at Rome, this servant of God wrote half the Epistles of the New Testament, preached to and trained Onesimus in the faith of Christ, and preached the gospel to some in Nero’s house and to his guards.

As a result of what Paul did during those last two years, untold millions have been converted. God knew what he was doing when he brought Paul to Rome in chains; and Paul knew that God knew what he was doing (Romans 8:28-30). Therefore he was content (Philippians 4:1-13). Carefully read what Paul wrote during this time and what Luke says of his behavior. You will not find a single word to indicate any dissatisfaction on his part. Trusting God’s providence, he was submissive, thankful, and patient to the end.

When the time came for him to leave this world, he was ready (2 Timothy 4:6-8). WHAT SHOULD WE LEARN FROM THE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN? Much time could be wisely spent drawing out numerous lessons from just the last two years of Paul’s life and ministry. Many more might be found if one takes the time to review the twenty-eight chapters of this book. But, overall, three lessons seem to leap out of these pages of inspiration.

1. Learn to trust God’s providence (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
2. Learn to do what God gives you the ability and opportunity to do for the glory of Christ and the good of immortal souls (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
3. Learn this too - All who honor God shall be honored by God (1 Samuel 2:30).