Acts 28:21-31 - God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles

28:21,22

The Jewish leaders had not heard anything much about Paul and seemed to be unaware of the controversy.  However, they did know that the “sect”, as they referred to Christians, did have a lot of people speaking against it. So they want to hear from Paul, what he has to say for himself.

28:23-27

A time was set, and a large number of people came to hear Paul. Paul spent a whole day “explaining about the kingdom of God”. He tried to persuade them that Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets. Some believed, some did not. Luke quotes Is 6:9,10 to sum up the situation with regard to the Jews and the Gospel, pointing to the hardness of heart of the Jews. Obviously this did not apply to all Jews, Paul himself was a Jew and there were other Jewish believers, but it was an accurate generalisation.

28:28-31

The book of Acts is brought to a close with the conclusion that while the Jews in general had rejected the gospel, the gospel had been sent to the Gentiles, and they would listen. Again, this is a generalisation, for many Gentiles did not receive the gospel. Paul spent two years explaining and presenting the gospel to all who would listen. And that is where Acts ends. There is no mention of Paul’s final fate, though tradition has it that he was martyred.

Acts 28:14-20 - It is because of the hope of Israel

28:14-16

The gospel had already reached Rome, so while Paul is the main focus of attention in the second half of Acts, he was not the only means by which the gospel was spreading. There were some believers near Puteoli who invited Paul and his companions to stay with them. Hospitality was a vital part of church life, and is emphasised in a number of the letters. The warm welcome was of great encouragement to Paul. Eventually Paul arrived in Rome. He was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. He was not considered to be a great danger.

28:17-20

Paul maintained his custom of giving the Jews “first refusal”. So he met with the local Jewish leaders. They would probably be giving evidence against Paul in the trial before Caesar. However, Paul did not consider the Jews as “the enemy”, so he met with them to try and win them over. Paul recounts the events in Jerusalem. He also seeks to explain how the gospel is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, rather than being opposed to it.

Acts 28:7-13 - Paul placed his hands on him and healed him

28:7-10

The warm welcome they received continued with the chief official of the island, a man called Publius. Maybe it was because it was an island and they appreciated the importance and dangers of the sea that they were so welcoming.  Publius’ kindness was rewarded. His father was sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul prayed for him, and he was healed. News about this spread around the island and many other sick people came to him and were cured. Sometimes the argument is made that the number of reported miracles and healings declines as we progress through Acts, and therefore we should expect fewer healings today. This verse shows that this is a very weak argument. Miracles did still happen. Luke did not write his account so that we had a record of all the healings, and his purpose developed as we work through Acts. The kindness of the islanders continued until they were ready to leave.

28:11-13

It was three months before they put to sea again, going on another ship that had wintered there. Luke gives a few more details, as was his habit. Castor and Pollux were the twin sins of Zeus, in Greek mythology. They were thought to provide protection for sailors. There were a couple of stops on the way, at Syracuse and Rhegium. Syracuse was on Sicily, and Rhegium was at the southern tip of Italy. Finally they arrived at Puteoli, a major port for Rome.

Acts 28:1-6 - They said he was a god

28:1-3

After they were all safely ashore, they discovered that the island was the island of Malta. The islanders seem to have been very friendly and treated the shipwrecked crew and prisoners with great kindness. It was a wet and cold time of year, and hence the storm. So they built a fire. Paul joined in with gathering brushwood. In the course of doing this he picked up a snake. The snake is called a viper. Nowadays there are no vipers on Malta, and it may have been some other breed.

28:4-6

The snake had fastened itself to Paul’s hand. I guess this means it had bitten him, though I suppose it could just have coiled itself around his arm. Whatever the case, the islanders immediately decided this meant he was a murderer and the god of justice had finally got him, having failed to do so by wrecking the ship. Paul managed to shake the snake off his hand and into the fire it went. The islanders expected Paul to swell up and die. However, he suffered no ill effects at all. The islanders then changed their mind and decided that he must be a god! The opinions of men are not always a particularly reliable guide!

Acts 27:39-44 - Everyone reached land safely

27:39-41

When daylight came they saw a bay with a sandy beach, i.e. it was suitable for running the ship aground on. A rocky bay would have been a disaster. The bay is now called St Paul’s Bay in Malta. Even so, the ship ran aground on a sandbank and they weren’t able to get in as close as they had hoped, and the ship started to break up.

27:42-44

There was one last demonstration of Paul’s influence. The soldiers were planning to kill the prisoners for fear of them escaping. This seems a ridiculous attitude to have, and indeed it was, but there would be a price to pay for the soldiers if they let prisoners escape. The centurion wanted to preserve Paul’s life, so stopped the soldiers from executing their plan. The centurion had respect for Paul, and also knew that his duty was to get Paul to Rome. So one way or another, everyone made it safely to the shore.

Acts 27:33-38 - I urge you to take some food

27:33,34

They hadn’t been eating much (27:21), so Paul urges them to eat as a great effort would be needed in order to survive. Note that Paul is not averse to giving straightforward practical advice, he told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach problems (1 Tim 5:23). Paul also tells them that “not one of you will lose a single hair from his head”. Jesus used a similar phrase (Luke 12:27), this seems to have been a common idiom of the time.

27:35-38

Paul openly acknowledged his devotion to the Lord, and that everything he did was done with faith in God, so he gave thanks to God for the food they had. All this encouraged the people on the boat. People can be dismissive of religion and faith, but we all hit times in our lives when it becomes clear that we are not in control of our lives.Having faith in God provides a strong anchor in such times, it gives us a greater stability. Our faith can be an encouragement to others, even leading to them putting faith in Christ. They were all encouraged. Then they threw the remaining grain overboard to lighten the load further. This would allow them to get closer to the shore.

Acts 27:22-32 - Not one of you will be lost

27:22-26

Rather than gloating, Paul urges the men to maintain their courage and not give up. He also assures them not one of them will die, although the ship would be destroyed. Why did Paul have such faith and insight? It was because an angel of the Lord had appeared to him. So again we see angels playing a key role.  The angel assured Paul that he would indeed stand trial before Caesar and that God would preserve the lives of all those aboard the ship. Paul declares that the basis for his courage and faith is his faith in God. There was also practical advice, they had to run the ship aground on an island.

27:27-32

It was some time before they spotted land. They took soundings and discovered that they were getting closer to running aground. Some sailors sought to find their own way of escape. Paul warned the centurion that they must not be allowed to flee, and the centurion took the appropriate action. Paul had won the trust of the centurion.

Acts 27:13-21 - The ship was caught by the storm

27:13-20

It seemed that a window of opportunity had arisen with a break in the weather, so they left the harbour and sailed along the shore of Crete. However, the weather soon changed and the wind became hurricane force. Again we get more intricate details of the “journey”, or rather of how they were at the mercy of the wind. Things got so bad that they started to throw cargo overboard in order to lighten the ship. Things went from bad to worse and “we finally gave up all hope of being saved”. It is as certain as can be that Luke was on board this ship.

27:21

While Luke and the others may have given up hope, Paul had not. After a time Paul stood up and spoke to all of them. He started by pointing out how he had warned them against setting sail. Now he did not do this in order to gloat, but so that they would give him credibility, and so listen to him. Sometimes in life, in churches, people will ignore us even when we are right. In such times we should not go into a sulk. There may come a point when people are prepared to listen.

Acts 27:6-12 - Much time had been lost

27:6-8

Having landed at Myra in Lycia, the centurion found another ship, this time it was heading for Italy. So if all had gone well that would have been the last stage of the journey. Even at this stage the weather was becoming more of a problem. So they went via the lee of Crete, seeking shelter from the storm. Progress continued to be difficult and they came to a place called Fair Haven.

27:9-12

Things were not going well, and it was autumn, and storms would become more frequent and intense. Paul warned them, advising them of the dangers. However, commercial interests prevailed, and the centurion followed the advice of the pilot and the ship owner. As we know, and will see, this resulted in greater losses. However, it is not clear what else they could have done, for we are told that the present harbour was “unsuitable to winter in”. They aimed to reach Phoenix and to winter there. Phoenix was also in Crete.

Acts 27:1-5 - We boarded a ship

27:1,2

So Paul is finally on his way to Rome. Getting to this point has followed a very tortuous route and taken a long time, numbered in years. Along the way Paul has witnessed to various rulers. The next stage of the journey will be no less eventful. Paul, and a number of other prisoners are put in the charge of a centurion named Julius. The “we” indicates that Luke went along with Paul. Aristarchus was also with Paul, he was previously mentioned in Acts 19:29, coming from Ephesus. The journey would be completed in several stages.

27:3-5

Julius, the centurion, was mentioned by name because he showed kindness to Paul. When they landed at Sidon, Paul was allowed to go and see his friends. The friends would provide food and other things for Paul’s journey. Sidon was about seventy miles north of Caesarea. After setting sail again they passed the lee of Cyprus, this provided protection against the winds. Once again we receive a lot of detailed information about the journey, much of which we might think we could do without. However, all these details add to the authenticity of the account. The gospels and Acts were not made up stories, but things which actually happened.

Acts 26:24-32 - You are out of your mind!

26:24-27

As in Athens, it is Paul’s preaching of the resurrection that seems to incite Festus’ outburst that Paul is out of his mind. Paul, of course, refutes this, maintaining that what he says is reasonable and true. He then refers to the king, who being familiar with Jewish teaching could confirm this. Paul then challenges king Agrippa directly, asking him if he believes the prophets, expecting the answer yes.

26:28-32

Agrippa, like most politicians, does not want to give a straight answer. Instead he asks Paul if he thinks he can convert Agrippa in such a short time. Paul simply responds that he prays to God that Agrippa will believe, along with all people. Agrippa and Festus then discuss the matter privately, admitting that there is no real charge against Paul, but because Paul had appealed to Caesar they had to send him to Rome. One does think that surely they could have given Paul the option of withdrawing his appeal, and being set free. However, Paul was heading for Rome.

Acts 26:19-23 - I preached that they should repent

26:19,20

Paul then tells Agrippa that he was obedient to the vision. He started work immediately preaching first in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and Judea. After that he went to the Gentiles. He preached repentance, and that repentance should be demonstrated by actions. Repentance is a key part of gospel preaching, and true faith shows itself by actions. There are some who think that the letter of James is somehow offering a view that is opposed to Paul. This is utter nonsense. Paul could not conceive of faith without actions.

26:21-23

Paul was attacked by the Jews because of his preaching of the gospel, not because of any insurrection against Rome, or general trouble making. Paul was rescued by God, and he reiterates that the gospel is entirely consistent with the prophets and Moses, i.e. all of the Old Testament. Indeed the gospel is what they prophesied would happen. In particular, the Messiah would suffer, Isaiah 53 is the best example of this, but a number of Psalms foretell this as well. He would rise from the dead, and the message of salvation would go out to Jews and Gentiles. 

Acts 26:12-18 - To turn them from darkness to light

26:12-14

Then on one of his murderous journeys everything changed. He was off to Damascus to persecute a few more Christians, but on the way he saw a bright light, brighter even than the sun. He and his companions all fell to the ground, and Paul heard a voice saying “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads”. Paul was working against the purposes of God, against what God was doing. The Jewish leaders were doing the very same thing now. To work against God is indeed a hard thing to do!

26:15-18

Paul did not know who the voice was, though he refers to him as “Lord”. The voice then identifies himself as Jesus. Jesus tells Paul to get up, and tells him that Jesus has appointed him to be His witness and servant. Paul was not given a choice in the matter! He also assures Paul that He will rescue him from the Jews (his own people) and the Gentiles, Paul was persecuted by both groups. Paul’s task was “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”. And that is still the task of the church, and of you and me. The world is living in darkness and is under the power of Satan.

Acts 26:8-11 - Why should you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

26:8

“Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees did not. When in Athens Paul’s hearers were ready to listen up to the point where he started to speak about the resurrection. Now everyone knew that resurrections do not normally happen, but the gospel is not speaking about them happening “normally”, but about God raising Christ, and at His return, raising us. God is the creator of the whole universe, He is God, so there is nothing surprising about Him being able to raise the dead!

26:9-11

As I’ve mentioned before, Paul’s having been a deeply committed Jew made things all the worse as far as the Jews were concerned. Paul (or Saul) sought to do all he could “to oppose the name of Jesus”. He persecuted the church in Jerusalem, though note now that he refers to it as “opposing Jesus”.  Paul had people thrown into prison, with the authority of the chief priests. He was also happy to have them put to death. He loved to go from one synagogue to another. In fact, there was no end to his zeal.

Acts 26:1-7 - You have permission to speak

26:1-3

We now get another example of Paul “giving his testimony” before rulers. This one is the most detailed of Paul’s explanations. Agrippa invites Paul to speak, Festus having given Agrippa charge of the hearing. Unlike Festus, Agrippa was well acquainted with Jewish customs. He had charge of the temple and could appoint the high priest. So Paul wants to explain things to him carefully.

26:4,5

Paul again starts with his beginnings. Right from the beginning he had been brought up and lived as a committed Jew, going on to become a Pharisee. The Pharisees were the strictest  Jewish sect, seeking, in their own terms, to strictly adhere to the Law.  All this was something that the Jews could readily attest to if they were honest.

26:6,7

The Jews regarded Paul, along with other Jewish Christians, as a heretic, an enemy of the Law. However, Paul claims quite the opposite. The gospel is the fulfilment of the Law, it is all entirely consistent with the Law. The gospel is God’s fulfilment of the promises He had made to their ancestors. All the Jews knew that the promises in the Old Testament, especially those given by the prophets, had not been fully fulfilled. So Paul’s argument is that he is being accused because he is acting as a true Jew!

Acts 25:16-27 - I would like to hear this man

25:16-21

Festus then presents things as if he was a great upholder of justice. Festus had been expecting the Jews to charge Paul with some sort of insurrection, but instead their charges all related to detail of their own religion, and Festus could not understand their objection. Felix had been well acquainted with the gospel, but it seems that Festus was not aware of the Way. Festus then explained that Paul had appealed to Caesar. Festus was in a fix because he would have to have some good reason to send Paul to Caesar, explaining the nature of the accusations and the reason for sending him to Rome.

25:22-27

Agrippa wanted to hear Paul. Remember that back in Acts 9:15 God said that Paul would speak to rulers. Throughout these years of confinement Paul has spoken to various rulers. Festus explains that the “Jewish community” were adamantly against Paul, wanting him dead.SO Paul was brought before Agrippa, and Agrippa and his sister Bernice made a big show of themselves, displaying how important they were. Festus explains that he can find no reason to have Paul put to death, and doesn’t know what to write to Rome. He hopes that Agrippa can help give him something to send on the “charge sheet” for Rome. Essentially Festus just wants to get the matter of his hands.

Acts 25:9-15 - You have appealed to Caesar

25:9-12

Festus wanted to keep in with the Jews. This was probably because the Jews had a reputation as potential troublemakers, and he wanted peace during his time there. So Festus was inclined to send Paul to Jerusalem. It seems that Festus knew the charges had very little basis, otherwise he would have ordered Paul to Jerusalem. Paul sensed that he could well end up being sent to Jerusalem, as he knew how Roman governors acted. So he appealed to Caesar. As a Roman citizen he had the right to do this. Paul did this to avoid going to Jerusalem, and also in order to get to Rome. So Festus agrees to send Paul to Rome.

25:13-15

King Agrippa was from the infamous Herods,  his father was Herod Agrippa I, and he was the great grandson of Herod the Great. He had been given rule over certain areas, including the temple in Jerusalem, by Emperor Claudius. His sister Bernice was his constant companion. He seemed to be very proud of himself. He came to visit Festus, and they discussed the case of Paul and that the Jews wanted him condemned.

Acts 25:1-8 - I have done nothing wrong

25:1,2

Paul’s trials continue. We should remember that all this took years, with him spending a lot of time under arrest of one form or another. Felix is now off the scene, replaced by Festus. The various Roman rulers all seemed keen to placate the Jews as much as possible, and Festus was no exception. He went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. The Jewish leaders, probably the Sanhedrin, appeared before Festus and presented their trumped up charges.

25:3-5

The Jewish leaders had not given up on their plan to ambush Paul, though no doubt they had not been fasting all that time! Festus being new to the situation would be unaware of the plot to kill Paul. However, Festus, unknowingly, foiled their plot by inviting the Jewish leaders to come to Caesarea to present their case. It seemed simpler to him for the case to be heard in Caesarea as he was going there, and Paul was being held there.

25:6-8

Festus spent eight or ten days in Jerusalem. On returning to Caesarea he convened court and Paul was summoned. “The Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him”. This may have been a rather threatening position. They brought the same serious charges against him as before, but without any evidence to support their claims. Paul answered in the same way as before, declaring that he had done nothing against Jewish Law, the temple nor against Caesar.

Acts 24:22-27 - Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come

24:22,23

Felix was well acquainted with the Way. We are not told how this happened, but his wife was a Jew, and the Way had become a well known phenomenon. Paul was kept under guard, though he was given a degree of freedom, and his friends were allowed to provide for him. This is the way things worked in those days.

24:24,25

Felix privately listened to Paul speaking about the gospel and faith in Christ. Paul spoke about “righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come”. Like many rulers, Felix was not morally upright. Note that the things Paul’s approach would be criticised by many, saying we shouldn’t speak about such things at first. We find no support for such a view in the Bible. Moreover, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would convict people about “sin, righteousness and judgement” (John 16:8). We are far better to take our lead from the Holy Spirit than from men! Maybe Felix felt convicted from time to time, so could only take so much of Paul, yet at the same time there was something attractive about what he said.

24:26,27

Felix would later be replaced as governor, he was not a particularly upright man. On hearing that Paul had brought money for the Jerusalem church, perhaps he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. If that was the case, he was out of luck. However, Felix often listened to Paul. After two years, without having made a decision, Felix was replaced by Procius Festus. In order to placate the Jews, Felix had kept Paul in prison. In some ways, Felix was like Pilate.

Acts 24:17-21 - I was ceremonially clean

24:17,18

Paul had not come to Jerusalem to stir up trouble, but to bring gifts to the poor. In a number of his letters we read of Paul organising a collection among the Gentile churches for the Jerusalem church, see 2 Cor 8. When he went to the temple he was ceremonially clean. While Paul clearly taught that Gentile believers did not need to be circumcised, he himself as a Jew continued to observe the Law. And there was no crowd with him. So there was clearly no intention of stirring up trouble. 

24:19-21

Indeed the only ones aiming to stir up trouble were some of the Jews who had come from the province of Asia. They should have been the ones facing charges! We often see this reversal of the way things should be from what they are. The worst enemies of the Palestinian people are Hamas and similar groups. The trans activists are the worst enemies of trans people. Paul challenges his accusers to state clearly what crime he has committed, instead of merely casting slurs. Then Paul again mentions the resurrection. This had previously caused an uproar, but this time has no such effect. Either the group was much more homogenous in their views on this, or they had learnt their lesson from the previous episode.