Acts 28 - God Uses Paul's Circumstances To Give Him the Opportunity to Preach To Many!
Paul Ashore on Malta
28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Again we see the historical nature of the bible in Acts, as Paul and his companions came to the island of Malta. Malta was a small island in the Mediterrean Sea, south of Cicily and north of Libya. The islanders showed unusual kindness, which is a common theme in Paul's travels. It was God's way of showing Paul that He was with him at every turn.
When Paul was bitten by a venemous snake, the superstitious islanders thought it a sign that justice had been exacted, and Paul was probably a murderer. But when he shook off the snake will no ill effects, they then diametrically changed and thought he was a "god".
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Paul and his companions got the VIP treatment from Publius, the chief of the island. Publius' father was very ill suffering from a fever and dysentery, which was very deadly in Paul's day. Paul laid hands on him, and not only was he healed, but many other of the sick were brought to him and were healed as well. The islanders showed kindness and provided for Paul and his companions, as Paul brought the gospel in great power.
Paul’s Arrival at Rome
11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul and his companions boarded a new Roman ship. Though "twin gods" were mounted on the ship, it was clear which God was directing this ship. They continued their journey and again met people at stops along the way, such as fellow Christians at Puteoli. This was a three month journey from Malta. The news about Paul spread and other believers came and met Paul at the Forum of Appias and Three Taverns.
Paul was greeted like a Roman emperor and continued to enjoy the privileges he had been given before as a Roman citizen. God had told Paul in a vision that that He had people for him at every turn, and now Paul was seeing God keep His promise in yet another way.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” 21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
Paul's first stop when he reached Rome was to gather the local Roman leaders, possibly at a local synagogue, which was his usual strategy. Paul recounts the story of how he was handed over to the Roman officials by the Jewish leaders, though he had done nothing wrong. He had done nothing to violate any Jewish laws. But Paul's hope was still for his fellow Jews that they would be saved. These Jews had not been given any news about Paul, so they were anxious to hear what all the fuss was about.
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people and say “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” 27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
As they gathered to hear Paul, the crowd had grown substantially. God had prepared and miraculously brought Paul there to share the Good News about Jesus with them. If you think your local pastor's sermons are long, Paul preached from the morning until the night. He took time to connect the law and prophets of the Old Testament with Jesus. He explained about the "kingdom" and then persuaded them how Jesus was the fulfillment of the kingdom.
As is often the case, some were convinced but others rejected Paul's message. This caused disagreements among them. Paul quoted from Isaiah, when the prophet foretold the fact that his fellows Jews would never hear and understand the truth about Jesus. Why? Because their hearts were hardened. It wasn't as if God did not want them to believe in Him, but their hearts were hardened. As someone has said,
"A man convinced against His will is against it still!"
God gave us free will. He will never make anyone believe. If we reject God and the Good News about His Son, our hearts will slowly grow hardened to a point where we are not even able to believe.
28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
Because of the Jews' hardness of heart and rejection, God directed Paul to go to the Gentiles to proclaim the salvation that comes through Jesus. Paul was certain that the Gentiles would believe when they heard to the Good News about Jesus.
Paul waited another two years while his case was being settled. In the meantime he preached about the power of the kingdom and about who Jesus was. What else did he do?
Though Paul could not travel, he could teach and preach to all who came to him – and this he did. He also wrote letters; we have these two years of Roman custody to thank for the letters to the Ephesians, the Philippians, and the Colossians.
These two years were not wasted, and God didn’t waste Paul’s time in Rome. God never wastes our time, though we may waste it by not sensing God’s purpose for our lives at the moment.
Paul eventually had his appearance before Caesar Nero. It’s entirely reasonable to believe that he boldly and powerfully proclaimed the gospel to him – as God had promised he would (Acts 9:15 and 23:11). (David Guzik, Enduring Word Commentary)
As you journey through your life, how has God provided people along the way to show you He is always with you? How have some of the circumstances of your life given you an opportunity to share the Good News about Jesus?
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