Acts Of The Apostles 39 Of 39

WHY DOES THE LORD FINISH THE BOOK OF ACTS WITH NO ENDING?

This books is filled with the ACTS of God’s people, and God intends for the church to continue to serve him in this manner.

If you remember, in the last sermon we saw Paul on the ship, and a storm came up and every man on board almost went to a watery grave.

But God supernaturally intervened and they landed on the Island called Melita.

Look at Acts 28:1. We read, “And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.”

Melita is about sixty-miles south of Sicily. The island was under the control of Sicily.

What did they see once they arrived on this island?

Let’s look at-

I. THE PEOPLE

There are three things we need to look at in verse 2. We read, “And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.”

Notice, first of all God:

A. SAVED FROM THE STORM

Notice, the Bible says these were “Barbarous people”.

This does not mean they were not civilized people. The fact is, all groups of people that did not follow Greek customs and speak in the Greek language were considered to be barbarians.

However, God used these “barbarous people” to assist Paul in his time of need.

WHAT DID THESE BARBAROUS PEOPLE DO?

The Bible says they:

• Showed them kindness

• Kindled a fire

• Received them

WHY DID THEY DO THIS?

The Bible tells us why, “…Because of the present rain, and because of the cold.”

These people could have threatened and killed them as they landed on their island, but instead, they showed them kindness during this terrifying typhoon.

Sometimes the worst of times brings out the best in some people.

They were considered to be barbarous people, but they were conducting themselves like real gentlemen.

They were cold and wet, and God used these barbarous people to save them from the storm.

But notice, they were not only saved from the storm, notice, they were-

B. SAVED FROM THE SNAKE

Look at verse 3, we read, “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.”

Now we can not help but feel sorry for Paul. His life makes 007 looks like a boy scout.

• He had just escaped a hard fourteen day storm on the sea

• He was abandoned by mutinous sailors on a ship

• He had his life threatened by Roman soldiers who feared he might try an escape

• He had just escaped a ship wreck

• He had just escaped the cold and the rain

And now Paul is bitten by a snake.

Paul has got to be thinking, “Lord, what’s next?”

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN TO US?

Verse 4 could shed some light on why God allows some of these things happen to us.

Look at verse 4. We read, “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.”

The scripture let’s us know they SAW the snake bite him.

Often, God allows things in our lives to happen to us because there are lost people who are watching us every day. And they see THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US and they see HOW WE REACT TO THEM.

There is no doubt God allowed this to happen to Paul for this reason. THEY SAW IT BITE HIM!

WHAT ELSE DID THEY SEE?

Look at verse 5, we read, “And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.”

These barbarians had seen others bitten by this kind of snake, and generally it caused the victim much pain and death. But in Paul’s case the Bible says he, “…felt no harm.”

They could not see any expression of pain on his face, but also, normally when someone is bitten by this particular kind of snake, they are swollen and the victim dies fast, but this is not the case with Paul.

Look at verse 6. We read, “Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.”

These barbarians were thinking that as soon as Paul was bitten, three things were going to happen:

• He was going to scream for pain as the deadly poison hits his blood stream

• He was going to become swollen