These last two chapters of the Acts of the Apostles are amazing verse and a final look at the heart of Paul trying to convince the Jews that the resurrection of Jesus Christ logically followed the Law of Moses and from what the prophets had prophesied.
Paul, the prisoner, took a leadership role on the voyage to Rome while witnessing to the soldiers and crew. An amazingly well told story with lots of details!
Here is the story in the words of the Bible:
Now when it was decided that he should sail for Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be turned over to a centurion named Julius.
Paul: “Men, I see that this voyage is threatening to bring disaster and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our lives also.”
…the next day they threw some of the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s gear overboard. As neither the sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small storm was raging, all hope of our being saved was in consequence given up.
Paul: “Men, you should indeed have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete, this sparing yourselves from this disaster and loss. And now I beg of you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood by me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted thee all who are sailing with thee.’ So, men, be of good cheer; for I have faith in God that it will be as it has been told to me. But we are to reach a certain island.”
But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea… Paul to the centurion and the soldiers: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her drift off.
Paul: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch and fasting, without taking anything to eat. So I beg you to take some food for your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.” With these words he took bread and gave thanks to God before them all and broke it and begun to eat. Then all became more cheerful and took food for themselves. Now, we were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls on board. And after eating their fill, they proceeded to lighten the ship by throwing wheat into the sea.
But we struck a place open to two seas, and they ran the ship aground.
Now the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners lest any of them escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, put a stop to their plan… And so it came to pass that all got safely to land.
Paul is amazingly focused, persistent and powerful on the voyage to Rome, all the while being a prisoner!
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer is driving the bus and still making all the stops while being robbed and fighting off the robber. When asked how he could do that, he replied ‘because they kept ringing the (stop) bells!
Faced with his own personal uncertainty, Paul is in close communication with God and following His every order. Why? Because that is what an apostle does. That was what was in Paul’s heart.
More of the story in the words of the Bible:
After our escape we learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and refreshed us all because of the rain that had set in, and the cold.
The head man of the island, whose name was Publius… And it happened that the father of Publius was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in, and after praying and laying hands on him, he healed him. After this all the sick on the island came and were cured; and they honored us with many marks of honor, and when we sailed, they provided us with such things as we needed.
We set sail after three months in an Alexandrian ship with the Twins on her figurehead, which had wintered at the island.
…and so we came to Rome. And the brethren there, having had news of us, came… and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage. On our arrival at Rome, Paul was given permission to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.
Paul to the leading Jews in Rome: “Brethren, although I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After an examination they were ready to release me, since I was innocent of any crime that deserved death; but as the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. This, then, is why I asked to see you and speak with you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
…Paul explained the matter, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying from morning till evening to convince them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Paul: “Well, did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: With your ear you will hear and will not understand; and seeing you will see and will not perceive. For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest perhaps they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I will heal them.’ Be it known that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen to it.”
And for two full years Paul remained in his own hired lodging; and he welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered. Amen.
Amen indeed! The ongoing dialogue with the Jews is quite amazing as well. Paul utilizing the words of the prophet Isaias summarizing and concluding the conversation with ‘you either get it or you don’t’ or even better ‘it’s the Will of God that you either get or you don’t.’ No hard feelings either way but there is salvation for all of eternity to be received but in only one manner of the exercising of one’s own free will. It’s a dialogue that is still quite applicable today in not only religious discussions but also spiritual ones and pretty much any secular discussion.
This is it for the Acts of the Apostles—THE END—Paul’s journey to Rome has concluded with him making a final pitch of salvation to the Jews.
Day 134: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Paul’s Journey to Rome & His Final Pitch to the Jews.
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 27-28 (END).
Bible Notes:
Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome
Acts Chapter 27: Departure for Rome; From Caesarea to Myra; From Myra to Crete; Seeking a harbor in Crete; A violent storm; Paul encourages them; The sailors desert the ship; Paul assures them of safety; Shipwreck; all are saved.
Now when it was decided that he should sail for Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be turned over to a centurion named Julius.
Paul: “Men, I see that this voyage is threatening to bring disaster and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our lives also.”
…the next day they threw some of the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s gear overboard. As neither the sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small storm was raging, all hope of our being saved was in consequence given up.
Paul: “Men, you should indeed have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete, this sparing yourselves from this disaster and loss. And now I beg of you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood by me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted thee all who are sailing with thee.’ So, men, be of good cheer; for I have faith in God that it will be as it has been told to me. But we are to reach a certain island.”
But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea… Paul to the centurion and the soldiers: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her drift off.
Paul: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch and fasting, without taking anything to eat. So I beg you to take some food for your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.” With these words he took bread and gave thanks to God before them all and broke it and begun to eat. Then all became more cheerful and took food for themselves. Now, we were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls on board. And after eating their fill, they proceeded to lighten the ship by throwing wheat into the sea.
But we struck a place open to two seas, and they ran the ship aground.
Now the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners lest any of them escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, put a stop to their plan… And so it came to pass that all got safely to land.
Acts Chapter 28: Sojourn to Malta; Many cured at Malta; Malta to Rome; Paul speaks to the Jews in Rome; Paul holds a meeting with them; Paul imprisoned for two years in Rome.
After our escape we learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and refreshed us all because of the rain that had set in, and the cold.
Now Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
The natives said to one another: “Surely this man is a murderer, for though he has escaped from the sea, Justice does not let him live.”
Seeing no harm come to him (Paul), they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
The head man of the island, whose name was Publius… And it happened that the father of Publius was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in, and after praying and laying hands on him, he healed him. After this all the sick on the island came and were cured; and they honored us with many marks of honor, and when we sailed, they provided us with such things as we needed.
We set sail after three months in an Alexandrian ship with the Twins on her figurehead, which had wintered at the island.
…and so we came to Rome. And the brethren there, having had news of us, came… and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage. On our arrival at Rome, Paul was given permission to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.
Paul to the leading Jews in Rome: “Brethren, although I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After an examination they were ready to release me, since I was innocent of any crime that deserved death; but as the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. This, then, is why I asked to see you and speak with you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
…Paul explained the matter, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying from morning till evening to convince them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Paul: “Well, did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: With your ear you will hear and will not understand; and seeing you will see and will not perceive. For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest perhaps they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I will heal them.’ Be it known that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen to it.”
And for two full years Paul remained in his own hired lodging; and he welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered. Amen.
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