Acts 28 Well once they hit the island, it was apparent that it was not deserted. And somehow they knew the name of it, Melita, which is present-day Malta. It was approximately 10x20 miles wide. The native were very nice, but did not speak Latin or Greek, and ironically the name Melita means refugee. The natives built a fire for all their guests and Paul lends a helping hand, along with a viper clinging to it. No worries, Paul simply shakes the snake off into the fire and goes about his work. This spooks the natives and they all assume that since he was a prisoner he must be a really bad man, possibly a murderer, or a member of the Tea Party. Even though he escaped the shipwreck, justice, in the form of this snake will prevail. They all waited for Paul to swell up and die, keel over, or explode from the snake bite. Nope. God had a plan for Paul’s life and no darn ol’ snake bite was gonna stop him. So, he’s not a bad man or a Republican, so they thought he must be a god! Close, but not god, just a servant of God. Paul spent the next days healing the sick on the island, and these may be the last miracles recorded in Scripture, as the age of man-initiated miracles is drawing to a close. Isn’t God Amazing! The natives sent them on their way with provision the men had lost at sea, and they finally reached their destination of Rome. The Word of God had spread there, and Paul had brothers in Christ waiting for him. Paul was granted house arrest vs. prison, so every day, every shift, one Roman guard got to hears Paul’s message of salvation. Paul called on all the leading Jews in Rome, at the time there were seven synagogues. He preached to the Jews first and stated his case. Many believed, but far more didn’t believe. Thus the prophet was right, you will hear but not understand, you shall see but not perceive, you will be a rock but chose not to roll. Your minds are dull, your ears are hard of hearing, and you have shut your eyes. For if they would only see, hear, and understand, they would be turned back onto God, and healed. Because the Jews were rejecting salvation, he was turning to the Gentiles in Rome as he had other places, the Gentiles will listen. Paul was acquitted of his crime, because his accusers did not come forth, and after two years of waiting trial he was set free. The Gospel message was entirely legal and open and was spread through the soldiers that were chained to him to include Caesars Guard. Paul had time to write Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon and Colossians.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 06:56:31 +0000