Paul Preaches in Rome
Paul Preaches in Rome
Finally the moment we have been waiting for. Apostle Paul arrives in Rome as God had promised. It was a long journey of many trials, tribulations, storms and detours. In all, God prevailed for the one purpose of fulfilling His word in Acts 1: 8 “8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Remember this is the primary theme and purpose of the Book of Acts – to show how this scripture was fulfilled and today it is still being fulfilled. God’s salvation in the person of Jesus Christ had come to all the world and we are recipients and witnesses. This is the gospel that Apostles Peter, Paul and others preached.
Acts 28: 11-31
11After 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. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15The brothers 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 men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. 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. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. 20For 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."
21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers 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." 27For 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.'[a]
28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"[b] 30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul and company left the island of Malta, they sailed and arrived to Rome after about five days. They arrived at Puteoli where some Christian brothers welcomed them. Some of the Christian brothers traveled from a far distance to welcome Paul. We understand based on geography of the time some traveled a distance of 43 miles or more.
2. Paul was encouraged seeing the believers. It said, “At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged” vs.15. We should always be excited about other brothers and sisters whom Christ died for. When we don’t like other brothers and sisters in Christ, it is like saying to a man, I like you but I don’t like your wife. The man would say, you really don’t like me either because my wife and I are one. Are you encouraged by other believers in Christ? We must not be lone rangers.
3. Paul believed that the gospel is first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. When he arrived in Rome, he called on the Jews first to present the Messiah. Some believed but he is not going to waste too much time with those that don’t believe. Paul reminds the Jews what the scripture said about Jesus. "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." 27For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
4. Paul understood the scripture and also understood that he was an apostle to the Gentiles. He heads straight to the Gentiles for they will listen. 28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"[b] The Holy Spirit will tell us if we listen whom not to waste our time with in telling about the salvation that Christ offers. All of our preaching and sharing must be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
5. Paul was granted limited freedom with a guard who may have been chained to him. What an opportunity for every guard who came on duty to hear the gospel. 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him” vs.16. I wonder if I would have taken advantage of the opportunity if I was Paul or would I have been complaining and telling anyone who would listen how I was limited and inconvenienced. May God help me and you in our minor complaining.
6. Paul stayed in Rome under house arrest for two years. He received visitors from within Rome and outside Rome. We know that from the other epistles he was released from this imprisonment. He later wrote the letter to the Romans (to encourage them and state clearly the gospel message) which meant he was not in Rome and it must have been after the two years he spent in Rome.
7. He “boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”vs. 31. God gives boldness to willing hearts that are willing to take baby steps even when the odds are against them. May the Holy Spirit grant us boldness to open our mouths when we need to speak the salvation of God to the dying world. Has God put someone in your heart? Ask God for the boldness of the Spirit. He has put someone in my heart too and I do the same.
8. The message is simple and we must not complicate it. We must preach that the kingdom of God has come and the King is Jesus Christ. Only those in the kingdom of God will be saved because they have a relationship with the King of the Kingdom.
9. Some Take-home from the Book of Acts: a. God has given us His Holy Spirit as an evidence of His relationship with us; b. We must live by His Spirit leading be His witness by the power of His Spirit; c. The baton has been passed on unto us to carry the message of God’s salvation to all the world. The Book of Acts ends abruptly because you and I are the present Acts of the Holy Spirit in display.
I pray that the message of the Book of Acts will never elude us. God has fulfilled His promise to pour out His Spirit in the last days to all flesh. No one is excluded and we should never exclude anyone. The power of the Holy Spirit had started the work of spreading the good news from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and now to the ends of the earth. We have the best news in town. “before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls the name of the Lord will be saved” Acts:2:20-21. The great and glorious day of the Lord is coming soon. Have you called on the name of the Lord? Have you been saved from the impending calamity to come? On the other hand if you are saved, are you looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus when we shall see Him face to face? I am looking forward to see the one who died for me.
The disciple asked in Acts 1: 6: "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority”. Jesus replied to his disciples and further said that for now, they will receive the Holy Spirit and be His witness to even the ends of the earth. We have seen these witnesses in the Book of Acts and the gospel is right now almost reaching the ends of the earth. The end is therefore near though we don’t know the exact date. Join us as we investigate the signs of the end as we study the Book of Daniel in our next study series.
May God bless you for joining me in the journey through the Book of Acts. Thank you.
Finally the moment we have been waiting for. Apostle Paul arrives in Rome as God had promised. It was a long journey of many trials, tribulations, storms and detours. In all, God prevailed for the one purpose of fulfilling His word in Acts 1: 8 “8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Remember this is the primary theme and purpose of the Book of Acts – to show how this scripture was fulfilled and today it is still being fulfilled. God’s salvation in the person of Jesus Christ had come to all the world and we are recipients and witnesses. This is the gospel that Apostles Peter, Paul and others preached.
Acts 28: 11-31
11After 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. 12We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15The brothers 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 men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. 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. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. 20For 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."
21They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
23They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers 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." 27For 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.'[a]
28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"[b] 30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul and company left the island of Malta, they sailed and arrived to Rome after about five days. They arrived at Puteoli where some Christian brothers welcomed them. Some of the Christian brothers traveled from a far distance to welcome Paul. We understand based on geography of the time some traveled a distance of 43 miles or more.
2. Paul was encouraged seeing the believers. It said, “At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged” vs.15. We should always be excited about other brothers and sisters whom Christ died for. When we don’t like other brothers and sisters in Christ, it is like saying to a man, I like you but I don’t like your wife. The man would say, you really don’t like me either because my wife and I are one. Are you encouraged by other believers in Christ? We must not be lone rangers.
3. Paul believed that the gospel is first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. When he arrived in Rome, he called on the Jews first to present the Messiah. Some believed but he is not going to waste too much time with those that don’t believe. Paul reminds the Jews what the scripture said about Jesus. "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." 27For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
4. Paul understood the scripture and also understood that he was an apostle to the Gentiles. He heads straight to the Gentiles for they will listen. 28"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"[b] The Holy Spirit will tell us if we listen whom not to waste our time with in telling about the salvation that Christ offers. All of our preaching and sharing must be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
5. Paul was granted limited freedom with a guard who may have been chained to him. What an opportunity for every guard who came on duty to hear the gospel. 16When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him” vs.16. I wonder if I would have taken advantage of the opportunity if I was Paul or would I have been complaining and telling anyone who would listen how I was limited and inconvenienced. May God help me and you in our minor complaining.
6. Paul stayed in Rome under house arrest for two years. He received visitors from within Rome and outside Rome. We know that from the other epistles he was released from this imprisonment. He later wrote the letter to the Romans (to encourage them and state clearly the gospel message) which meant he was not in Rome and it must have been after the two years he spent in Rome.
7. He “boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”vs. 31. God gives boldness to willing hearts that are willing to take baby steps even when the odds are against them. May the Holy Spirit grant us boldness to open our mouths when we need to speak the salvation of God to the dying world. Has God put someone in your heart? Ask God for the boldness of the Spirit. He has put someone in my heart too and I do the same.
8. The message is simple and we must not complicate it. We must preach that the kingdom of God has come and the King is Jesus Christ. Only those in the kingdom of God will be saved because they have a relationship with the King of the Kingdom.
9. Some Take-home from the Book of Acts: a. God has given us His Holy Spirit as an evidence of His relationship with us; b. We must live by His Spirit leading be His witness by the power of His Spirit; c. The baton has been passed on unto us to carry the message of God’s salvation to all the world. The Book of Acts ends abruptly because you and I are the present Acts of the Holy Spirit in display.
I pray that the message of the Book of Acts will never elude us. God has fulfilled His promise to pour out His Spirit in the last days to all flesh. No one is excluded and we should never exclude anyone. The power of the Holy Spirit had started the work of spreading the good news from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and now to the ends of the earth. We have the best news in town. “before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls the name of the Lord will be saved” Acts:2:20-21. The great and glorious day of the Lord is coming soon. Have you called on the name of the Lord? Have you been saved from the impending calamity to come? On the other hand if you are saved, are you looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus when we shall see Him face to face? I am looking forward to see the one who died for me.
The disciple asked in Acts 1: 6: "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority”. Jesus replied to his disciples and further said that for now, they will receive the Holy Spirit and be His witness to even the ends of the earth. We have seen these witnesses in the Book of Acts and the gospel is right now almost reaching the ends of the earth. The end is therefore near though we don’t know the exact date. Join us as we investigate the signs of the end as we study the Book of Daniel in our next study series.
May God bless you for joining me in the journey through the Book of Acts. Thank you.
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