Acts 27-28
Notes
Transcript
God’s Will Is Done..
God’s Will Is Done..
Good morning my friends, we are here the last week of September.
Fall is in the air and in the next few weeks we will see the colors changing in the trees before the leaves start to fall to the ground.
Soon the weather will change, it will get colder and we will long for warmer temperatures.
What does not change is the Lord Jesus! His presence, His love and his mercy and grace remain the same. I say this to remind us, while things change around us, He doesn’t change and we can always count on our Lord to be near to us and help us.
Today we finish the the book of Acts. And with it we hope to be reminded that God’s plans are faithful. What our Lord determines, He will do for His glory.
Just as He had plans for Paul, I am convinced, I know for certain that our God has plans for each of your lives. It is our responsibility to see Him and know Him and thus know His ways.
So this morning we come to chapters 27 and 28, and there are three things I want you to see as we walk in the text.
Lets begin with these thoughts today, and the first one is this…
1. Shipwrecked
As we open chapter 27, we find that Paul is not waiting any longer in Caesarea, it is time for him to travel on to Italy, and therein Rome.
And we know this is God’s will for Paul, God is sending him to Rome just as he was to travel to Jerusalem.
Remember, he was told, warned if you will that if he continued on the course at hand he would be in chains, bound up and no longer free.
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
And again in chapter 21, the prophet Agabus warned Paul if he continued forward, he would be bound and held captive.
Yet with all of this, Paul’s one desire is to walk obediently in the Lord will that he might share Jesus with all.
So looking at Acts 27, verse 1 Paul is placed on a ship sailing for Italy.
1 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.
Now, being late in the year, close to winter the seas were rougher, and it was harder to sail so they are moving as close as they can along the coasts so they could jump into ports as needed until time to move out into more open waters
Now coming to Myra in verse 5, they transferred Paul to an Alexandria ship that was sailing onto Italy by way of the island of Crete.
Now since it was late in the year, Paul warned them that it was the wrong time to be sailing and they would wait until more appropriate times. But his advice was not taken and they began there journey again.
As we move down to verse 14 we see a Northeaster brings a violent storm upon the seas and ship is having a difficult time. And looking at verses 18-20 we see what the crew is doing in the midst of the storm
18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
It seems that all hope is lost my friends, but even in the darkest hour please know the Lord is near.
21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”
Wow, in the midst of what seems like death might be certain. God has shown up, He has sent a messenger to Paul, telling him and thus men on board that there will be no lose of life. The ship will not make it, but they would not be harmed.
And so the ship ran around and was being torn apart from the waves. and while the soldiers plan was to kill the prisoners least they escape, a centurion wishing to keep Paul safe kept them from carrying out their plan and ordered those who could swim to jump over board and make for land verse 43.
And the rest on pieces of wood, planks from the ship made their way to land.
Paul suffered shipwreck, but his life and the rest of those on the ship were saved by the Lord’s plan.
I remind you of all this, to safe we are not guaranteed a peaceful journey, we are only guaranteed the Lord is with us.
And this brings us to the next thought...
2. Serpents....
The ship broke apart and the men, those prisoners , guards,sailors and others, made their way to safety upon the shore line of Malta, a little island south of Sicily.
Soaking wet, cold and dazed from all they had gone through I am sure… Lets look at verses 1-2 Acts 28:1-2
1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
Wow, God and told through Paul there would be no loss of life, and there they were, like drowned rats but alive.
And those who lived there, they saw their need and welcomed them, The inhabitants of the island started a fire to try and help warm them as best they could…
I love this Paul said the inhabitants of the Island had showed them unusual kindness… man, I like this … why? because Paul points it out.. what we do for others in times of need, or hurt, or stress is often remembered and people rejoice at the love shown them
Do you remember the love and kindness shown to you?
Now lets move forward, lets look at verses 3-6
3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
So look at what happens here, Paul goes and picks up a little bundle of sticks, you know like the smaller limbs and such from the tree branches that were there on the ground. Someone had previously grouped them together, but Paul went to help and reached and picked up the this bundle
And to his surprise, Paul had another visitor there in the sticks, a serpent, a snake! or viper as verse 3 says. And that snake, it bit Paul, latching onto his hand.
Now snakes that are known to be vipers usually mean they are deadly, and a fast acting death. I remember some friends who had served in Vietnam talking about bamboo vipers, they called them 2 steppers.. cause it would usually kill you within a few steps.
Wow, look at Paul.... it doesn’t say he got scared or hollered, and it doesn’t say he needed to do this, the snake was there and it did what snakes do… it bit him.
Now there is a couple important things I want you to see in the text
And look here, those inhabitants of the island, when they saw what had happened, they thought Paul was a murderer, often people in various places in our world think if something bad happens to you, well you must have deserved it.
They said verse 4 Acts 28:4
4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
But when they saw that Paul did now swell up or die, well they changed their mind about Paul.
But stop right here and lets look at Paul’s response to the snake… the Scripture says that he simply shook it off.
5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
The viper bit him and Paul simply shook it off into the fire, and you why… the only good snake is a dead one… right.
But Paul shook off what had latched onto him...
There is a great lesson to learn here.... So often we allow things to latch onto us....
Consider these....
Opinions of others... Oh, they latch on and so are willing to share their opinion about a person, or church.
Fear which holds us..... Fear will latch on and keep a person from fulfilling God’s will in their life...
It will keep people from discovering where God is leading them..
Words of discouragement.... People often may have a great experience with God or because of following God and you share it with others and someone rains on your parade…
Sin.... sin latches onto people and it pulls them down, lies to them and tells them God will never want to use them again...
Pride …. Our own opinions about ourselves can often get in the way.
Anger.... Anger can latch onto people, it is keep them bitter and unable to serve the Lord properly, it like sin will hinder their walk with God...
And sitting here today, you may have thought of something different, something that can latch on and keep a person or person from walking and living for God...
I mention this to you today to remind you... it only has the power over you that you allow it to have.. Words, actions, sin, anger… these can all be forgiven and you can forgive those who do tis too you.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When the devil bites shake him off into the fire where he belongs and you keep on keep’in on… Do not allow anything to keep you from walking with God..
Paul shook it off and the peoples opinion of him changed when they saw he did not die… they thought him a God… but he wasn’t he was just a faithful servant of the one true God and God made sure he was take care of....
Now we come to just one last thought today..
3. Safely in Rome...
Now we know that as Paul and the others remained on the island a few days, enjoying the hospitality of the locals.
The chief man Publius (Pub-lee- us) of the area hosted them and during their time there Paul discovers that this man’s father as ill.
Paul took time to pray for him and lay his hands on him and he was healed… Then many others who were sick came to Paul and were healed…
Pretty awesome to see Paul being used of God in this area, and God being glorified and lifted up.
Finally, verse 11 says that after 3 months they were able to sail on another ship that had wintered in the island.
And finally they arrive, and verse 15 tells us something wonderful Acts 28:15
15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
We are not sure how they knew Paul was close by, made word of mouth, maybe the Lord told followers there, but whatever the case, we see that brothers from two areas travel a good distance to meet Paul.
Three taverns was approximately some 50 miles from Rome and the Forum of Appius (Appy -us) was about 40 miles…
How wonderful to have brothers greeting Paul as he came to Rome.
And in Rome verse 16 tells us that Paul was allowed to stay by himself, more under house arrest with a guard that stayed with him....
Now verse 17 shares with us that after a few days he called for the Jewish leaders in the city of Rome to come and meet with him.
Interesting they themselves had not heard about Paul’s so called crimes from any of the Jewish communities in Judea or other parts of the world where Paul had been teaching and preaching.
And they agreed to hear him speak… look at verses 23-24
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
You see Paul kept trying and even in prison he wanted to see his brethren come to know Jesus as the Messiah.. and so did, but some did not...
And for this reason, because of their unbelief that Paul spoke to them what the Holy Spirit had made known to him from the OT from the text of Isa 6, verses 9-10
Look at verses 25-27 Acts 28:25-27
25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “ ‘Go to this people, and say,
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
It is sad my friends to share the truth with many, many of those who are close to your heart, but the majority not beleive.
And Paul is there in Rome for 2 years before being released… and during this time he writes Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon.
(In his last imprisonment before death he will write Timothy, Titus and then a 2 letter to Timothy right at the end.)
And in these two years, what does Paul do?
What he has always done! He shares about Jesus....
So much that all in Caesar’s Praetorian Guard have heard and the vast majority I think have believed the gospel.
Paul shares this in writing to the church a Philippi
Listen to Philippians 1:12-14
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
But look at this, Paul says there are two victories because of his imprisonment, Not only have many believed, but the brothers in Rome are much bolder in sharing the Gospel.
Praise the Lord...
Paul did and others did it… How awesome is that.
And as he closes that letter in chapter 4, listen to what he says...
22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
I wonder if Caesar knew he was surrounded by so many Christians...
I think it would have been nice for him to know that many loved Jesus and were praying for him.
What is our leaders knew we loved Jesus and were praying for them...
What have we seen through the book of Acts? The early church empowered by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 are taking the gospel to the world and the world is responding.
We have what they have… are we trying to change the world with the great gift that we have?
Lets pray