2015.09.13 Acts 28
Paul gets to Rome at last
Acts
28:1- 6
NKJV
1
Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called
Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire
and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of
the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the
fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when
the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another,
“No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet
justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire
and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or
suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no
harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Acts 28:1- 6 slt 2000
1 Und als sie gerettet waren, da erfuhren sie, daß die
Insel Melite hieß.
2 Die Einwohner aber erzeigten uns ungewöhnliche
Freundlichkeit, denn sie zündeten ein Feuer an und holten uns alle herbei wegen
des anhaltenden Regens und wegen der Kälte.
3 Als aber Paulus einen Haufen Reiser zusammenraffte und
auf das Feuer legte, kam infolge der Hitze eine Otter heraus und biß ihn in die
Hand.
4 Als aber die Einwohner das Tier an seiner Hand hängen
sahen, sprachen sie zueinander: Gewiß ist dieser Mensch ein Mörder; er hat sich
zwar aus dem Meer gerettet, doch die Rache1 läßt nicht zu, daß er lebt!
5 Er jedoch schleuderte das Tier ins Feuer, und ihm
widerfuhr nichts Schlimmes.
6 Sie aber erwarteten, er werde anschwellen oder
plötzlich tot niederfallen. Als sie aber lange warteten und sahen, daß ihm
nichts Ungewöhnliches geschah, änderten sie ihre Meinung und sagten, er sei ein
Gott.
1…
They then found out that the island was called Malta…
Malta means refuge…. What a perfect name for a harbor from the storm!
3a…
When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks…Paul gathered wood
for the fire…. even though there were probably scores of people among the 276
passengers and crew far more suited for the job…. Paul's servant heart was
always active…..
3b…
A viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand… Here
is Paul…. He is certainly exhausted…. But he is right out there gathering wood
for the fire….. Paul was being faithful to the LORD… He was a wonderful servant….. Out of the fire
comes a viper…. A poisonous snake… The viper fastened on his hand….
Paul didn't let it bother him…. He didn't scream,
"Why God? I can't take any more of this! Can't You see I'm serving
You?" Paul's reaction was calm and
full of faith in the Lord plan…. He simply shook off the creature into the fire…..
The locals were amazed at the scene…
4…“No
doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice
does not allow to live…The natives were convinced that justice
had finally caught up with this prisoner…. Justice….
The concept of Justice implies the knowledge of good and
evil…. These barbarians had an understanding of right and wrong…. … Even these
barbarians know right from wrong…. They have a conscience… Romans 1…
The natives…. Know that Paul is a Roman prisoner….
They assume he has committed a great crime…. and they decide
that justice will not permit Paul to escape unpunished….
5…
And suffered no harm… God didn't save Paul from the storm just to
let him die from a snakebite….. Paul is protected because the Lord has sent him
on a mission… The Lord said that he would go to Rome to appear before Ceasar… Acts 23:11… and Paul wasn't at Rome yet…… It
wasn't that nothing could stop Paul…. Rather it was…. that nothing would stop
God's promise from being fulfilled…..
Paul relied upon God's past faithfulness…. He believed
the Lord´s promise of blessing and
protection…. So shook off the snake unharmed….
6…
Said that he was a god… This is a typically human reaction….
For these natives Paul was a mystery… One minute…. he was terribly evil and justice was not going to let him live….
And the next moment they decide that he is a god… Naturally Paul was neither…
He was a sinner saved by grace… And as we will see…. This storm has brought him
to Malta for a special purpose…. Salvation and Healing for these barbarians…
Acts
28: 7-10 NKJV
7 In
that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose
name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three
days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and
dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and
healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had
diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many ways; and
when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.
Acts 28: 7-10 slt 2000
7 Aber in der Umgebung jenes Ortes hatte der Vornehmste
der Insel, der Publius hieß, ein Landgut; dieser nahm uns auf und beherbergte
uns drei Tage lang freundlich.
8 Es begab sich aber, daß der Vater des Publius am Fieber
und an der Ruhr krank daniederlag. Paulus ging zu ihm hinein, betete und legte
ihm die Hände auf und machte ihn gesund.
9 Nachdem dies nun geschehen war, kamen auch die übrigen
Kranken auf der Insel herbei und ließen sich heilen.
10 Diese erwiesen uns auch viel Ehre und gaben uns bei
der Abfahrt noch alles Nötige mit.
8…
Sick of fever and dysentery… Some think that the
sickness Publius' father had was a bad sickness known as Malta fever…. which
comes from a microorganism found in the milk of Maltese goats…. It can last for
3 or 4 months…. It is sometimes fatal… He was in very bad shape… Well the Lord
healed him by the hand of Paul…
9…
The rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed… The
Lord confirmed Paul´s message with miracles…. Everyone on the island heard of
Paul and most came to see him…
There was a revival on this island…. This revival on Malta is
another reason why the Lord drove Paul´s ship 500 mile off course…. They spent
the winter there… Paul´s shipwreck turned into a tremendous blessing for these
Barbarians from the island of Malta…. Even when we don´t understand what´s
going on in our lives…. As believers very often we see… Disaster turned into Blessing… And they got
to be disciple all Winter long by Paul and Luke and Timothy…
10…
They also honored us in many ways… The Lord touched
the hearts of the people… They believed the Gospel that this man of God
proclaimed… And they honored and blessed them on their Journey…
Acts
28: 11-15 NKJV
11
After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the
Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we
stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And
after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli,
14
where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so
we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they
came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he
thanked God and took courage.
Acts 28: 11-15
slt 2000
11 Nach drei Monaten aber fuhren wir ab auf einem Schiff
von Alexandria, das auf der Insel überwintert hatte und das Zeichen der
Dioskuren führte.
12 Und wir liefen in Syrakus ein und blieben drei Tage
dort.
13 Und von dort segelten wir um die Küste herum und kamen
nach Regium; und da nach einem Tag ein Südwind aufkam, gelangten wir am zweiten
Tag nach Puteoli.
14 Dort fanden wir Brüder und wurden von ihnen gebeten,
sieben Tage zu bleiben; und so machten wir uns auf den Weg nach Rom.
15 Und von dort kamen uns die Brüder, als sie von uns
gehört hatten, entgegen bis nach Forum Appii und Tres Tabernae. Als Paulus sie
sah, dankte er Gott und faßte Mut.
MAP
12… landing
at Syracuse, we stayed three days.
Syracuse was a famous city in the ancient world… It was
the capitol city of the island of Sicily…. They they traveled up along the
coast…
13… we
came to Puteoli… This was the main port for the grain ships
from Alexandria to unload their cargo…. Remember that´s what Paul´s ship was…
14…
And so we went toward Rome… Paul and the others are greeted outside
Rome by Christians from Rome who have come to meet them…..
15…
When the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as the Appiian
Forum and Three Inns… The Christians in Rome had received Paul's
famous letter to them a few years before…. so they probably felt like they knew
him already…… They honored him by greeting Paul just like the emperors were greeted when they arrived at
Rome…. they went out to meet him as he came near the city…. traveling some 50
miles to do it!
Acts
28:16 NKJV slt 2000
16
Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain
of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who
guarded him.
16 Als wir aber nach Rom kamen, übergab der Hauptmann die
Gefangenen dem Obersten der Leibwache; Paulus aber wurde gestattet, für sich zu
bleiben mit dem Soldaten, der ihn bewachte.
When Paul got to Rome… the city was already about 800
years old… At the time, Rome had a population of about two million…. one
million slaves one million free citizens…
And so Paul begins to proclaim the Good news in Rome…. Everywhere
Paul went he taught and discipled all who would listen… Paul also wrote letters
to bless and encourage the church…. This prison time was a very Fruitful time
for Paul´s ministry…. We continue to be blessed by His time in Rome…. During
these 2 years… Paul wrote…. Ephesians
and Colossians and Philippians….
Acts
28: 17-22 NKJV
17
And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews
together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren,
though I have 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,
18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no
cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was
compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my
nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and
speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
21
Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you,
nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22
But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we
know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
Acts 28: 17-22
slt 2000
17 Es geschah aber nach drei Tagen, daß Paulus die Vornehmsten
der Juden zusammenrief. Und als sie versammelt waren, sprach er zu ihnen: Ihr
Männer und Brüder, obwohl ich nichts gegen das Volk oder die Gebräuche der
Väter getan habe, bin ich von Jerusalem aus gefangen in die Hände der Römer
ausgeliefert worden.
18 Diese wollten mich freilassen, nachdem sie mich
verhört hatten, weil keine todeswürdige Schuld bei mir vorlag.
19 Da aber die Juden widersprachen, war ich genötigt,
mich auf den Kaiser zu berufen; doch keinesfalls habe ich gegen mein Volk etwas
zu klagen.
20 Aus diesem Grund also habe ich euch rufen lassen, um
euch zu sehen und mit euch zu sprechen; denn um der Hoffnung Israels willen
trage ich diese Kette!
21 Sie aber sprachen zu ihm: Wir haben weder Briefe
deinetwegen aus Judäa empfangen, noch ist jemand von den Brüdern gekommen, der
über dich etwas Böses berichtet oder gesagt hätte.
22 Wir wollen aber gerne von dir hören, was du für
Ansichten hast; denn von dieser Sekte ist uns bekannt, daß ihr überall
widersprochen wird!
17…
Paul called the leaders of the Jews together… Paul followed his
consistent practice of going to the Jews first in every city he came to as an
evangelist.
21…
We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the
brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you…
Paul wanted to know what they had heard from Jerusalem about him….
Paul said he was there as a prisoner for the hope of
Israel…. The Messiah... As the year 70 A.D. approached, time was running out….
Acts
28: 23,24 NKJV
23
So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom
he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them
concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till
evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some
disbelieved.
Acts 28: 23,24 slt 2000
23 Nachdem sie ihm nun einen Tag bestimmt hatten, kamen
mehrere zu ihm in die Herberge. Diesen legte er vom Morgen bis zum Abend in
einem ausführlichen Zeugnis das Reich Gottes dar und suchte sie zu überzeugen
von dem, was Jesus betrifft, ausgehend von dem Gesetz Moses und von den
Propheten.
24 Und die einen ließen sich von dem überzeugen, was er
sagte, die anderen aber blieben ungläubig.
23…
He explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them
concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till
evening… What a great Bible study to have a tape of!.... Paul proclaimed
the Good News of the kingdom of God…. He gave a careful sermon using the Old
Testament to present the Lord Jesus…. He
spoke from morning till evening….
What did Paul teach regarding the kingdom of God?
Paul taught exactly what Jesus taught… God was bringing a
spiritual kingdom that would take root in men's hearts…. The
Jews of Jesus' day and of Paul's day were looking for a political kingdom, not
a spiritual kingdom….
24…
And some were persuaded… and some disbelieved…. Some
believed… and some refused to repent and believe… Believing the Gospel or
refusing to believe is an issue of the heart…
Acts
28: 25-29 NKJV
25
So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said
one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our
fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and
shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27
For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear
with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So
that I should heal them.”’
28
“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to
the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 29 And when he had said these words, the
Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
Acts 28: 25-29 slt 2000
25 Da sie sich aber nicht einigen konnten, trennten sie
sich, nachdem Paulus das eine Wort gesagt hatte: Trefflich hat der Heilige
Geist durch den Propheten Jesaja zu unseren Vätern geredet,
26 als er sprach: »Geh hin zu diesem Volk und sprich: Mit
den Ohren werdet ihr hören und nicht verstehen, und mit den Augen werdet ihr
sehen und nicht erkennen!
27 Denn das Herz dieses Volkes ist verstockt, und mit den
Ohren hören sie schwer, und ihre Augen haben sie verschlossen, daß sie nicht
etwa mit den Augen sehen und mit den Ohren hören und mit dem Herzen verstehen
und sich bekehren und ich sie heile.«5
28 So sollt ihr nun wissen, daß das Heil Gottes zu den
Heiden gesandt ist; und sie werden auch hören!
29 Und als er das gesagt hatte, gingen die Juden weg und
hatten viel Wortwechsel miteinander.
25…
When they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one
word… "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our
fathers." Paul understood that Isaiah prophesied of the
hardness of heart these people would have…. Certainly, Paul was glad that some
received the gospel….
26…
Hearing you shall hear and not understand…. Isaiah 6: 9,10….
This text is quoted 7 times in the Bible…
Essentially, Isaiah is saying…."If you reject Jesus,
you can hear, but never understand…. you can see but never perceive…. You heart
is hard…. your ears are closed…. and
your eyes shut…. because you really don't want to turn to God and be forgiven
of your sin… This message is just as
true today as it was when Isaiah first said it…
Paul pleads for
men to receive Jesus… Paul grieves about
those who reject the Gospel… Judgment is certain… repent the Kingdom of Heaven
is a hand…
The Proclamation of the gospel really produces two different
effects…. To those who respond to the
gospel with faith… It is a message of life….. But to those who reject Jesus….
the Hearing of the Gospel adds to their condemnation…. Because they have heard the
Good News… and refused to respond to the truth… To the one we are the aroma of
death to death…. and to the other the aroma of life to life…. 2 Corinthians 2:16…
29…
When he had said these words, the Jews departed… God's
judgment was coming…. and Paul´s heart was broken for his fellow Jews who
rejected the Lord Jesus…
Acts
28: 30,31 NKJV slt 2000
30
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who
came to him,
31
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord
Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
30 Paulus aber blieb zwei Jahre in einer eigenen
Mietwohnung und nahm alle auf, die zu ihm kamen;
31 und er verkündigte das Reich Gottes und lehrte von dem
Herrn Jesus Christus mit aller Freimütigkeit und ungehindert.
Why did Paul get stuck at Rome for two years? There are
many reasons… but three big reasons are the letters to the Ephesians, the
Philippians, and the Colossians…. God didn't waste Paul's time in Rome…. God
never wastes our time either… though
we may not understand God's purpose for our lives at the moment…. Paul was
unstoppable…. He was determined to run his race to the end…
No wonder he was able to boldly say… Follow me as I
follow Christ…
30… Received
all who came to him… Many came to see him… One example was a convert of Paul's…. a runaway slave
named Onesimus (Philemon 10)….. Paul
sent him back to his master Philemon!
Paul had his appearance before Caesar Nero…. and there is
also no doubt that he boldly and powerfully proclaimed the gospel to him…. as
God had promised he would… Acts 9:15;
23:11…
31…
No one forbidding him…. This has the idea of being completely
unhindered from proclaiming the Gospel… Paul's chains and custody mattered
nothing….. The proclamation of the Word
of God was unhindered….
Paul was acquitted of these charges… Finally, even the unbelief of the Jews - or
anyone else's rejection of Jesus - will not hinder the gospel…. The gospel will
go forth…. And some will believe…
Paul enjoyed a few more years of liberty before he was
arrested again… Later Paul was arrested and imprisoned again…This time… He was
condemned to death… He was executed in Rome at the command of Nero… By this
time Nero had gone from being cautious and annoyed by Christians… To being
determined to kill them all… Paul ran his race…. And to the very end…. He loved
and served and Honored the Lord with his every breath….. He proclaimed the Good
News everywhere he went…. He disciple and encouraged the believers…. He prepared
the generation of pastors and elders to carry on the work of the Gospel…. He
did it by preaching the Gospel fearlessly…. He led by example…. Loving and
serving and laying down his life for the lord Jesus… What an example he is to
us today… Turn with me to Phil 1…v3… Listen to Paul´s love and prayer for the
believers…
Philippians
1: 3- 11 NKJV
3 I
thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine
making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from
the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has
begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just
as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart,
inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the
gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how
greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and
all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that
you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled
with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and
praise of God.
Philippians 1: 3- 11
slt 2000
3 Ich danke meinem Gott, sooft ich euer gedenke -
4 was ich allezeit tue in allen meinen Gebeten für euch
alle, und ich tue das Gebet mit Freuden -,
5 für eure Gemeinschaft am Evangelium vom ersten Tage an
bis heute;
6 und ich bin darin guter Zuversicht, dass der in euch
angefangen hat das gute Werk, der wird's auch vollenden bis an den Tag Christi
Jesu.
7 Wie es denn recht und billig ist, dass ich so von euch
allen denke, weil ich euch in meinem Herzen habe, die ihr alle mit mir an der
Gnade teilhabt in meiner Gefangenschaft und wenn ich das Evangelium verteidige
und bekräftige.
8 Denn Gott ist mein Zeuge, wie mich nach euch allen
verlangt von Herzensgrund in Christus Jesus.
9 Und ich bete darum, dass eure Liebe immer noch reicher
werde an Erkenntnis und aller Erfahrung,
10 sodass ihr prüfen könnt, was das Beste sei, damit ihr
lauter und unanstößig seid für den Tag Christi,
11 erfüllt mit Frucht der Gerechtigkeit durch Jesus
Christus zur Ehre und zum Lobe Gottes.
There
is no end to the story of the birth of the church… The Word of God continues
to spread… Hearts and lives are transformed…. All of it for the glory of God….
Why?
Because this same story is repeated again and again
throughout the history of the church…. Men and women who have been saved and
transformed by the Gospel…. Trusting in Jesus continue to proclaim the Good
News to a lost and dying generation.…. Glorifying the Lord Jesus with their
lives… Making disciples… Running their race… for the Glory and praise of our
great God…
Let´s pray
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