As we saw last week, the anticipated relaxing Mediterranean Cruise turned out to be a dangerous and stressful journey across the Mediterranean in an attempt to reach Italy so that Paul could stand trial before Nero. In a hurry to get Paul to Rome from Caesarea, the journey was attempted during the dangerous winter months when the chances of encountering violent storms was heightened. In the end, the ship on which cargo and people were being carried ran aground and began to break apart, but by God’s grace, even though all the cargo was lost, everyone aboard the ship was saved. As we saw last week, God used the encouraging words of Paul to reassure the hearts and minds of the people on board, including the Roman officers. When all of those aboard were brought safely to land, they discovered that they landed on an island called Malta. And then Luke adds,
The native people showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all (Acts 28:2).
Notice, once again, that Luke includes himself in the narrative. And then something interesting happened when Paul gathered some wood to throw on the fire,
…a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on Paul’s hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live” (Acts 28:3-4).
I don’t know about you, but Indiana Jones and I have something in common – we both “hate snakes.” Anyway, one of the goddesses of the people on the Island was called “Justice,” meaning that when something bad happened to someone, the goddess Justice would meet out “justice” for their crimes, or sins. And it was anticipated that Paul would be no different. But then, Luke records,
Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god (Acts 28:5-6).
God had the last word to say about the so-called goddess “Justice,” that is, the living God not only has the ability to perform miracles, but also does those miracles at just the “right time.” Naturally, Paul did not approve of his designation as a “god,” but it certainly gave him the opportunity to share about the “living God” with the other inhabitants on the Island, including the leading man of the island, Publius, who welcomed and entertained those with Paul for three days. But then Luke records,
…that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured (Acts 28:8-9).
This is the second miracle that occurred within a few days of their shipwreck. When all hope seemed to be lost, God was still in the business of glorifying His name through His servant Paul. And for us, let’s all remember that in our darkest hours, God is still present and working out His plan in our lives. As it turned out, Paul, and all those on board the ship, including the Roman soldiers and the captain of the ship, stayed on Malta for three months, being encouraged and blessed by the island people who had welcomed them because of the word and testimony of Paul. When it was time to leave, Luke records,
They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed (Acts 28:10).
Because of Paul’s testimony and witness to the grace of God, he was honored by the native people on Malta. And, of course, God continues to honor those who serve Him in Jesus’ name.
Getting on board an Alexandrian ship that had “wintered” on the Island, they resumed their journey to Rome, stopping at Syracuse and staying for three days, and then it was on to Rhegium, and finally to Puteoli. Interestingly, at Puteoli in Italy,
There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome (Acts 28:14).
Remember, Paul had never been to Italy, let alone Rome. And yet, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians who were in Italy, and in Rome specifically. Paul had previously written his letter to the “Romans” from Corinth in about AD 56, while on his Third Missionary Journey, and these Christians were the ones who lived in and around Puteoli. Others would soon arrive from Rome to escort Paul and Luke into the city. Interestingly, there is no mention of the Roman guards who had to be with Paul and Luke during their trip on land to Rome. Luke adds such an interesting note that when the believers from Rome were coming to greet Paul,
…he thanked God and took courage (Acts 28:15).
When tough times are on the horizon for any of us, it is such a rich blessing and source of encouragement to be surrounded by those “of like faith” who love us. Paul was no different, and as Paul entered Rome, he was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Of course, Paul wanted to meet with the Jewish leaders of the synagogue in Rome, and so, just three days after his arrival, he called them to his residence and began to recount the reason that he was in chains, saying,
“Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel” (Acts 28:17-20).
I love it when Paul refers to “the hope of Israel.” What was that hope? It was the hope of a future resurrection of the righteous, made possible by the resurrection of their own Messiah. And so, the leaders responded,
“We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere” (Acts 28:21-22).
Interestingly, the antagonistic Jewish leaders in Jerusalem decided not to “chase” Paul all the way to Rome, nor did they send any advance warning that the “heretic” was on his way! And so, Paul and the Jewish leaders set a day for Paul to address other Jews in Rome, and Luke records that they came to Paul’s residence in “large numbers,”
…explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe” (Acts 28:23-25).
Luke records the usual disagreements among the Jews who had come to Paul’s residence, and they soon began leaving, but not before Paul had one parting word for those among the crowd who were refusing to believe. He reminded them of what Isaiah the prophet said to their own ancestors,
‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them”’ (Acts 28:26-27).
Yes, the Jews in Paul’s presence, like those to whom Isaiah spoke, heard, but did not understand; they saw, but did not perceive. Why? Because their hearts had become “dull,” just like those in Isaiah’s day, and might I also say, in our own day as well. And after quoting Isaiah, Paul concluded by saying,
Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen” (Acts 28:28).
Naturally, that agitated the unbelievers even more, as they continued to argue as they left Paul’s residence. And then Luke finished his second letter to Theophilus (the Book of Acts) by saying,
And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching unhindered the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness (Acts 28:30-31).
Many historians place Paul’s 2-year imprisonment in Caesarea from AD 58-60, with Paul leaving Caesarea by ship bound for Rome in December, which would put Paul’s arrival in Rome in the early spring of AD 61. Paul would remain in prison, without a hearing for two years, from AD 61-63. But God had a plan for not giving Paul a “speedy” trial, as he took the time to write his letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and to Philemon. In AD 63, Paul would stand trial before Nero, and be released. If Theophilus was actually Paul’s defense attorney, the Books of Luke and Acts certainly played a role in providing Paul’s successful defense before Nero.
After his release in AD 63, Paul would travel to see the believers in many of the cities that he had planted years before. But shortly after Nero set fire to Rome in AD 64, and after blaming the Christians for the conflagration, Paul was re-arrested, brought back to Rome, and would be put to death shortly thereafter, in AD 64 or 65.
As with Paul, God has a plan for your life and for mine. Like Paul, we don’t know the steps that we will take to fulfill God’s plan for our lives, and that’s precisely why Paul always encouraged his readers to “walk by faith, and not by sight.” When we walk by faith, we trust God to guide us as we take the next step, and if that step leads to a course correction (as in Paul’s Second Missionary Journey), then let’s realize that the correction was actually God’s plan in the first place. If God has called you to serve Him, as He has with all who embrace Christ, we can confidently take the next step forward, knowing that our loving God will direct our paths and lead us to fulfill His calling on our lives.
May the Lord bless and keep you in His care.
