Acts 28

Acts 28:1

Paul was a marked man. His name was known in hell. The sizable storm he had endured was no doubt an attempt of Satan to do him in. “But I thought the storm was ordained by the Lord in order for him to bring the gospel to the island of Malta,” you say. It was. You see, in Greek, there is no linguistic differentiation between the words “trial” and “temptation,” which is why some versions of Jas_1:2 read: “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” while others read: “Count it all joy when you fall into various temptations.” Therefore, the temptation instigated by the Enemy to pull me down or do me in is ultimately the trial allowed, even ordained by the Lord to build me up and strengthen my faith. This is seen in the life of Job. Before Satan could bring any difficulty to him, or to those around him, he first had to ask permission of God (Job_1:9-12). But the ultimate example of this principle is seen at Calvary. Satan attempted to destroy Jesus Christ, only to discover that the Father allowed Judas Iscariot to betray Him and the Roman soldiers to crucify Him in order to bring about our salvation. Thus, it is the mature man, the wise woman who realizes that whatever is coming down in life is allowed by the Father to do something wonderful in, or to, or through them. The Greeks called anyone who didn’t speak Greek a barbarian because they thought the languages of other people sounded like “bar-bar"gibberish. Far from being “barbarous” however, the Maltese people showed kindness to the drenched soldiers, sailors, and prisoners who had washed up on their shore.

Acts 28:3

I like this. Paul could have said, “Hey, I told you a storm would happen. I told you the boat would go down. I told you all would be saved. That makes me the “big kahuna.” But that’s not what he did. Instead, he saw some guys lighting a fire and said, “I can help warm others,” as he started gathering sticks. How do you stop a guy like Paulalways looking for an opportunity to serve, always going for it? Two frogs fell into a can of cream, or so I heard it told. The sides of the can were shiny and steep. The cream was deep and cold. “Oh, what’s the use?” croaked number one. “‘Tis fate no help’s around. Goodbye my friend, goodbye cruel world.” And weeping stillhe drowned. But frog number two, of sterner stuff, dogpaddled in surprise, The while he wiped his creamy face and dried his creamy eyes. “I’ll swim awhile at least,” he cried, or so I’ve heard he said, “It really wouldn’t help the world if one more frog were dead.” An hour or two he kicked and swam, not once he stopped to mutter. But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked And hopped out via butter. Paul was definitely a frog number two kind of individualalways kicking, always finding a way to do something to warm someone else. Sometimes Satan tries to destroy or discourage us with sizable storms. Other times, he uses sneaky little snakes. While Paul was helping people, the snake struck. And you can be sure that’s when the serpent will strike you. When you are helping others, serving others, loving othersfrom out of the heat of hell, Satan will strike. Paul, however, would use this opportunity to share the gospel with these people in a uniquely powerful way. You see, the fallacy of the overemphasis of the faith movementthe mentality that says we should never be smitten by snakesis that it robs us of opportunities to share the gospel. The Maltese people knew about these snakes. They had watched their families and loved ones succumb to their poison. Now they were about to see how Paul would handle the power, the danger, the pain of their venom. So, too, the Lord will allow you to go through difficulties. The doctor may say, “It’s inoperable.” And no matter how you name it and claim it, folks, it may be the Lord’s plan for you to navigate that pain and venom in such a way that the barbarians around you, who are also losing their loved ones to cancer, will change their minds about who God is as a result. Jesus didn’t say to Thomas, “Watch this miracle or listen to this sermon.” He said, “Touch My wounds.” The world is rarely impacted and drawn to Jesus Christ through the sight of Christians prospering. No, it’s through seeing believers suffering and not giving up that the barbarians change their minds. Perhaps the most important ministry you’ll ever have is when people see how you react to the pain they go through all of the time. Difficulty is the agent that often allows people an opportunity to see the reality of Jesus Christ most clearly.

Acts 28:4

People are interesting. We always think the worst. When the snake strikes, invariably we start to think, Oh, my. You must be a bad person or else that snake wouldn’t be hanging from your hand.

Acts 28:5

Paul shook it off. I like that! It reminds me of my high-school football coach, Al Matuccifive feet two inches tall, five feet six inches wide. In our Thanksgiving Bowl game against Camden High School, Coach Matucci called a sweep around the left end. As right guard, my job was to pull and lead the blocking. Bob Fontaine, our quarterback set us down, gave the count, took the snap, and I pulled.

The next thing I remember was Coach Matucci standing over me, saying, “Shake it off, Courson. Shake it off.” After he broke smelling salts in my face and I staggered off the field, I discovered that the play Bob called was not a sweep around the left, but a sweep around the rightwhich explains why Paul Newbauer, our left guard, and I met helmet to helmet right behind center, and were both knocked out. Coach Matucci would have loved Paul! Paul just shook the snake offright back into the fire.

Acts 28:6

Isn’t this human nature? First, the islanders thought Paul was a murderer. Then, just as quickly, they thought he was a god. If you’re seeking the adulation of peoplegood luck! They’ll put you down just as quickly as they’ll build you up.

Acts 28:7

How about this for drop-in guests! For three days, two hundred and seventy-six murderers, thieves, extortionists, kidnappers, soldiers, and sailors lodged with Publius and his family. Sometimes people show up on your doorstep who might appear to be washed-out. But perhaps the Lord has sent them your way to bless you. If you open your heart, home, and life to people in the name of the Lord, He will reward you for your ministry of hospitalityas Publius was about to discover.

Acts 28:8

The word Dr. Luke used for fever is ducentario, meaning “many fevers,” and from which we get our word “dysentery.” Publius’ father came down with dysentery, which produced a great fevera condition still known on the island of Malta today, called, appropriately, Malta Fever. God will be a debtor to no man. Open your house, open your heart, and the people who come in will either bring a great blessing to youas Paul did when he healed Publius’ fatheror He will use someone else to bring a blessing your way.

Acts 28:9

It is interesting to me that, although Paul prayed for everyone on the island and they were healed, he himself remained afflicted with a “thorn in the flesh” (2Co_12:7), which most Bible scholars believe was an eye disease, and from which Paul prayed for deliverance three times (2Co_12:8). Sometimes the greatest work flows through the very areas of our lives with which we ourselves struggle. For example, even though you might have a difficult marriage situation, you might find yourself with an effective ministry in helping other couples. Why? Because the very struggles you go through give you a compassion for and a sensitivity toward others in the same situation. Consequently, I think it’s a mistake for us to say, “I’m not going to listen to that sister or receive from that brother because they’re struggling with the same issues I do.” Beethoven wrote his greatest symphonies when he couldn’t hear a note. And Paul healed multitudes when he was in need of healing himself.

Acts 28:10

With the winter season behind them, the prisoners, sailors, and soldiers departed from the island of Malta on a ship dedicated to Castor and Polluxtwin sons of Zeus, the gods of navigation.

Acts 28:12

They finally made it to Italywithin one hundred twenty-five miles from Rome.

Acts 28:14

Evidently, the captain had business in the city and allowed Paul and Luke to hang out with the brothers there. Hearing Paul was on his way, the brothers in Rome set out to meet him. The Appiforum being forty-three miles from Rome, The Three Taverns thirty-threesome men traveled farther than others to meet the apostle who had stirred their hearts through his Epistle to the Romans. So, too, people travel different distances in their desire to learn of the Lord. The wise men from the East traveled at least a year and a half to see the Christ child, while the religious leaders in Jerusalem couldn’t be bothered to make the five-mile trip to see what was happening in Bethlehem.

Acts 28:16

Paul was put under house arrest. Under this provision, the guard was changed every six hours. Paul would later write to the Philippian believers, “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household” (Php_4:22). How did men in Caesar’s household get saved? By being chained to Paul!

Acts 28:17

The Jews in Rome, observing Paul enter the city surrounded by the parade of believers who had met him at the Appiiforum and The Three Taverns, must have wondered, Who is this guy? So, when Paul said, “I want to talk with you"they came. “I am here on a judicial matter,” said Paul. “I have come to clear my name, not to condemn Israel.”

Acts 28:21

“Don’t worry, Paul,” said the Jewish leaders in Rome. “We haven’t heard anything negative from Jerusalem about you.” This is curious to me. I mean, the Jews in Jerusalem were out to kill Paul. Certainly they must have written a scathing report against him, warning the Jews in Rome about his heresyperhaps even trying to enlist their aid in finally doing away with him completely. Why is it, then, that the Jews in Rome never heard anything? Could it be because their letter was on the ship that went down at Malta? I have found that when storms strikewhen someone says, “I have cancer,” “My marriage is failing,” or “My son ran away,” the accusations of people who would otherwise be snipping at him or finding fault with him sink to the bottom of the sea of forgetfulness.

Acts 28:22

Paul said, “You want to hear about the “sect” of Christianity? Great!” And they set up a meeting wherein, beginning with the law, and going through the prophets, Paul explained the kingdom as it related to Jesus. The Jews were always eager to hear about the kingdombut Paul’s message was singular: He talked about the King. I would love to have a tape of that study. No doubt Paul would have directed their attention to Genesis 22, wherein Abraham was told to take his only son to Mount Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice unto the Lord. On their way up the mountain, Isaac, who was probably thirty-three years old at the time, said to his father, “Here’s the wood and there’s the firebut where is the sacrifice?” And Abraham spoke prophetically when he answered, “God will provide Himself a Lamb"not, “God will provide for Himself,” but, “God will provide Himself. He will be the Lamb.” Certainly, Paul would have reminded his audience of Exodus 12, wherein each family was instructed to place the blood of a lamb at the top, sides, and threshold of their doorsthereby depicting a cross. He would have taken them to Leviticus 14, wherein, following the cleansing of leprosy, priests were instructed to take two birds, place one in an earthen vessel, kill it, and sprinkle the blood on the second bird before letting it go free. “Don’t you see,” Paul must have said, “how this perfectly describes the work of Jesus Christhow, like the first bird, He came from heaven, was placed in the earthen vessel of a human body, and was killed? Yet, like the second bird, although the bloody marks of death remained upon HimHe rose again.” Paul would have turned their hearts to Psalms 22, where crucifixion was described centuries before it was known in the Middle East and wherein the very words Jesus spoke on the Cross were recorded. He would have reminded them of Micah 5, which prophesied specifically that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem; and of Daniel 9, which pinpointed the very day of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, He would have reviewed Zechariah 11 with them, wherein it was prophesied that Messiah would be betrayed by His friend and sold for thirty pieces of silver, which would be cast on the floor of the temple, scooped up, and used to purchase a potter’s field. From morning until night, Paul showed how the entire Old Testament pictured, pointed to, and prophesied Jesus Christ. What are the chances that the three hundred-plus prophecies given concerning Messiah would be fulfilled by one man? 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Think of it this way: Suppose the entire state of California was covered with acorns three feet deepone of which was painted green. You and a squirrel go up in an airplane, and, as you fly over California, you open the door and shove the squirrel out. After landing safely, he wanders up and down the statethrough San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Redding, Yreka until he feels hungry and decides to eat an acorn. The chance of him choosing the green acorn would be 1 in 10 to the twenty-third powerthe same chance that all of the prophecies concerning Messiah would be fulfilled in one man. It doesn’t make any sense intellectually for a person to deny the irrefutable facts of the Old Testament prophecies, pictures, and portraits that predicted who Jesus would be, how He would be born, how He would live, and how He would die. It takes more faith not to believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah than it takes to believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah.

Acts 28:24

Some believed and some didn’t. That’s still the way it iseven among Christians. You see, we know our sins are forgiven. We know Jesus is the Messiah, and that we’ll soon be with Him in heaven. Yet in the meantime, we might be in hellish situations of depression, defeat, and despair because of unbelief. The Word of God says, “In everything give thanks” (see Eph_5:20). Why? Because all things are working together for good (Rom_8:28). “Oh, but you haven’t seen the stack of bills on my desk.” Well, the Word says, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches” (see Php_4:19). “Yeah, but you don’t understand the hurt I feel because she dumped me.” Well, the Bible says even if she meant it for evil, God will use it for good (Gen_50:20). “But I feel so bad about my son. He’s not walking with the Lord.” Well, the Bible says we can be confident that He who began a good work in him will perform it until the day of Christ JesusHe’ll finish what He started (Php_1:6). Some Christians believe what God says and some don’t. Those who don’t find themselves engulfed in despair, defeat, and discouragement. You see, it’s not enough just to know the Scriptures, gang. It’s not enough just to hear the Word. It’s not enough just to come to Bible study. You and I must believe. And “believe” is not a nounit’s a verb. We can be the happiest, most carefree people in the world if we believeand act on that belief. You might know the Scriptures backward and forwardbut Jesus said, “Happy are you if you do them” (see Joh_13:17). It’s what you donot what you know that matters. And it all begins by saying, “Today I’m going to believe that God is working, and that He is fulfilling what He has promised. You are faithful, Lord; and I will live in that today. I will proclaim Your faithfulness, and I will choose to rejoice in You.”

Acts 28:25

“Isaiah spoke rightly of you, gentlemen,” said Paul, “when he said seeing, you wouldn’t see and hearing, you wouldn’t understand.” Through this prophecy, also quoted by Jesus to His countrymen (see Mat_13:13-15), Isaiah said, “God will blind the eyes of the person who does not want to see Him. He will harden the heart of the one who does not want to believe Him.” Why? Because the Good News of the gospel is so potent and powerful that unless God blinded the eyes and hardened the hearts of those who don’t want to believe, they would have no choice but to believe. And since God will not force Himself upon any man, in this way He bows to the choice of the person who wants nothing to do with Him. That is why resisting the Lord is a very dangerous thing to do, for there will come a time when He will do what He did to Pharaoh: He will harden the heart (Exo_9:12). He will do what He did to Israel: He will blind the eyes (Joh_12:40), lest someone be converted against his will.

Acts 28:28

Following the rejection of his message, Paul said, “I’ve talked to you from morning until evening. The proof is powerful, but you don’t want to see it. Therefore, the message will go to the Gentiles.”

Acts 28:29

For two years, chained to a guard, Paul would teach all who came to him. To know what Paul was thinking during this two-year house arrest, hear his heart in the books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemonall written during this period of captivity. Now, although this is where Luke, the author of Acts, put down his pen, Paul’s story continued. Released from house arrest to stand before Caesar Nero, Paul witnessed powerfully for the Lord. Nero, however, rejected Paul’s message and proceeded instead to go on a rampage against Christians. Historical records verify that he lost his mind at the very time he listened to Paul and rejected the gospel. Released by Caesar because there was no legal case against him, the Book of Romans and the writings of Eusebius tell us Paul preached the gospel in Spain and Europe before he was brought back to Rome under arrest once more. This time, however, it was no longer house arrest. He was thrown into a dungeon. Knowing death was imminent, Paul wrote these words to his young protigie, Timothy: For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day… “Paul should get a crown or righteousness,” you say. “He went for it totally. But me? No way.” Really? Read on. …And not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. “Hey! Even I qualify for that,” you can say. After reading the news, don’t you long for His coming? Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me; for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Paul had ministered to thousands, yet Luke was the only one who stood by him in his imprisonment. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. What were these parchments? The Old Testament. Here, the man who wrote much of the Bible is saying, “I want to study until the day I die.” Paul never stopped learning. Saints, God will use a man or woman whono matter what dungeon they might be in, no matter what time constraints, physical impairments, or emotional pressure they’re underwill say, “I want to know more of the heart of God.” Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Some left Paul and went back to the world. Others were afraid to stand by him. But the Lord stood with him. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus, Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter. “Get here quickly,” wrote Paul. “I know I’m about to die.” Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.2Ti_4:6-22 Shortly after Paul penned these words, he diedmost likely beheaded at the command of Caesar Nero. You might feel like you’re in a damp, dark dungeon. The people you were counting on aren’t theremaybe some are even attacking you. Thus, you can relate to something of what Paul wrote to Timothy. Understand this: If you are suffering without succeeding, someone will succeed after you. Paul died virtually alone, perhaps thinking, Was my entire ministry a failure? Is it all going to fall apart now that I’m in trouble? What’s going on? But look what happened: We are indebted to Paul as we are to no other brother besides our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, for as we read Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrewsit is Paul who clarifies truth so incredibly, who teaches grace so beautifully. Paul went through hard times, and his life ended on a seemingly difficult note. That is why if you are suffering without succeeding, I cannot promise you that you will succeed before you die. But I can promise you that if you are suffering for the cause of Christ, someone who comes after you will succeed. Ask Paul. Look at the church todaythe result of his suffering. There may be children or grandchildren, friends or neighbors, who, after your departure, will blossom and bloom because of the example you set, the life you lived, the suffering you endured. If, on the other hand, you are succeeding without suffering, know this: Someone suffered who went before you. Perhaps it was a grandmother or grandfather, a mother or father, a brother, sister, child, or friend who wept and prayed you into the kingdom. Ultimately, however, the One who suffered for and before you was Jesus Christ. For as Paulthe Pharisee-turned-believer, the tent-making rabbi, the champion of grace, the defender of the Finished Workwould write, “He who was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we might become rich. He who knew no sin was made sin, that we might be righteous in Him.” Amen.