In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-15 Paul on Melita. Verses 16-31 Paul in Rome. We finish our study in the Book of Acts today, Acts 28 and verse 1 reads.
Acts 28:1] And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
This is proven to be the island Malta of today. when they had escaped the wreckage of the ship, after landing on the Island, then they were told where they were.
Acts 28:2] And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
Barbarians are simply the Gentiles that lived on the island. They showed us great kindness, Paul said.
Acts 28:3] And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
[4] And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Vengeance should have been translated as Justice and Suffereth should have been translated as Allows Him. Let’s read it as this; Though he had escaped the sea, justice allows him not to live. These barbarians were a little superstitious. They didn’t know that it was Paul who helped save 276 souls.
Acts 28:5] And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
This should remind you whenever God’s elect do good, Satan (the serpent) will be there to try you. I like how Paul shook it off into the fire. Heb.12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. Let’s go to Mark, the last words Jesus spoke before ascending into heaven, Mark 16 and verse 17 reads.
Mark 16:17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Now let’s go to Luke 10 and verse 19 reads.
Luke 10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Always read God’s Word two ways, one fleshly and the other Spiritually. Back to Acts 28 and verse 6 reads.
Acts 28:6] Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
These barbarians are full of superstition. Notice the lowercase g in god. I’m sure Paul wouldn’t let that go. Remember Acts 14:11 they called him and Barnabas gods and worshipped them what Paul said? Let’s go to Acts 14 and verse 14 reads.
Acts 14:14] Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
[15] And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
[16] Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
[17] Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
I’m sure Paul corrected these Gentiles as well. Back to Acts 28 and verse 7 reads.
Acts 28:7] In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
Publius means popular. They have found grace in the sight of the LORD. Blessed by God to put compassion in their hearts.
Acts 28:8] And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
Who healed him? God through Paul healed him. Remember Jesus gave us power to heal and cast out devils, just remember to use the name, Jesus Christ.
Acts 28:9] So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
Above we went to Mark 16, let’s go back and take in the whole of the subject, let’s begin with verse 15 and it reads.
Mark 16:15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
We see here that these people on Malta must have been converted and baptized before they were healed. Back to Acts 28 and verse 10 reads.
Acts 28:10] Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
The people of Malta made sure they had all the provisions they needed for their trip.
Acts 28:11] And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
Let’s look at these signs Castor and Pollux. We find Pollux is G1359 Dioskouroi pronounced dee-os’-koo-roy and are; sons of Jupiter that is the twins Dioscuri. 1. Castor and Pollux, were the twin sons of Jupiter and Leda, and were regarded as the tutelary divinities of sailors.
We can see they are going on a ship that has Greek gods as their signs that align with the beliefs of Greece. making this ship a Greek ship that wintered on the island. Notice that it has been three months since Paul and crew had landed on the island.
Acts 28:12] And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
[13] And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
[14] Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
After having his brothers in Christ for moral support, they then went to Rome. Let’s go to Romans 1 and verse 7 reads.
Rom.1:7] To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[8] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
[9] For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
They followed Paul into Rome from Puteoli. Back to Acts 28 and verse 15 reads.
Acts 28:15] And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
Let’s go to Joshua 1 and verse 6 reads.
Joshua 1:6] Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
[7] Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
[8] This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Knowing that Paul was a scholar of God’s Word, let’s now go to Psalms 27 and verse 12 reads.
Psa.27:12] Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
[13] I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
[14] Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Back to Acts 28 and verse 16 reads.
Acts 28:16] And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
Paul is given different treatment because he was not a criminal. Paul would be going to the home of the centurion. Remember Acts 23 and verse 11 reads.
Acts 23:11] And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
God’s Word will always come to pass exactly as it is written. Back to Acts 28 and verse 17 reads.
Acts 28:17] And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
[18] Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
They found that I was innocent of all charges.
Acts 28:19] But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
The Sadducees, or Kenites, made these accusations against the resurrection of the Spirit.
Acts 28:20] For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
[21] And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
This is the reason they never heard of the trial of Paul, there were no Kenites in Rome. For you see, in Rome they thought religion was a superstition, and where there is no power to be gained, then there are no Kenites.
Acts 28:22] But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
This sect is Christianity, and they heard nothing good about it because it was hidden from them.
Acts 28:23] And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Paul worked from morning to night teaching the word of God. Remember there was no New Testament written then, so he used the Old Testament, both law and prophets. This is why I myself cannot teach the New without the Old.
Acts 28:24] And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
Some would hear the Word, and some could not hear. Notice that they didn’t get violent with him.
Acts 28:25] And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
[26] Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
[27] For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
This is why I cannot teach the New without the Old, let’s go to Isaiah 6 and verse 8 reads.
Isa.6:8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
[9] And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
[10] Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Always read what was quoted from the scriptures, it will give you credibility and show thyself approved. Notice that it said; And convert and be healed. Back to Acts and verse 28 reads.
Acts 28:28] Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Paul is speaking very boldly to these from the synagogue. The two houses are divided even until today. Let’s go to Isaiah 44 and verse 5 reads.
Isa.44:5] One shall say, I am the LORD’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
Call themselves the LORD’s, these are the Christian nations today. Another will call himself by the name of Jacob, this is America today, all twelve tribes of Jacob. The other that subscribes with his own hand unto the LORD and surnames himself Israel is the nation Israel of today. This is the house of Judah who takes the name of Israel today and gives us the generation of the fig tree since 1948. Back to Acts 28 and verse 29 reads.
Acts 28:29] And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
[30] And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
[31] Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Here is where Paul would write much of the New Testament we have today. He taught and reasoned with many people about how Christ was written much in the Old Testament, for he was a scholar of the law and the prophets. We must also know these works and teach them also. Let’s go to Ephesians 6 and verse 19 reads.
Eph.6:19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
[20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Teach boldly the Word of God to all that will listen, never casting pearls before swine, but teach God’s Word never wavering. Awesome book, a well mastered book beginning with Jesus ascending back to the Father to Paul testifying in Rome. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible