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
• He was going to fall over and die immediately
But none of these things happened to him.
In verse 4, when they saw him bitten, they concluded this, they said, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.”
But when none of the things that normally happened to a victim who had been bitten by this kind of snake happened to Paul, they changed their minds about him.
But they changed their minds after a little while.
Look at verse 6 again. We read, “…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..”
Isn’t that great! One minute he is being called a murderer, and the next minute the same people are calling him a god.
Illus: Every preacher can relate to that. One day people are saying about him, “If that preacher leaves the church so am I.” And then those same people see something that makes them mad, and they are trying to run him out of town.
We looked a the STORM, the SNAKE, but now let us look at-
C. THE SICKNESS
Look at verse 7. We read, “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.”
This island was filled with nice people. On the same island there was a man whose name was Publius.
In verse 7, we see he did two things:
• He gave them lodging for three days
• He was courteous to them
While they are there, Publius’ father was laying sick with a fever.
We do not know what kind of a disease he had, but we do know it was some kind of a blood disease.
Look at verses 8-9, we read, “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. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed.”
God healed Publius’ father, and this opened a door for many more to be brought to Paul for him to pray for their sickness, and preach the gospel to them.
When Paul was going through the storm, the shipwreck, and the snake bite, he may not have understood why all these things were happening to him.
But as God began to open the doors on this island, it was clear to him that God had a master plan behind all these things.
Also, God knew that after Paul faced the hard times, he needed a rest from these things.
Paul, who experienced a shipwreck, storm, and snake bite needed some love and care, and God sent him to the Island of Melita to get that.
Look at verse 10. We read, “Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.”
But God had an ultimate plan for Paul beyond this island, God wanted him to stand before kings.
We looked at THE PEOPLE, but now let us look at-
II. THE PLACE
He arrives at Rome.
Look at verses 11-16. We read, “And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 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: Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. 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.”
As Paul arrives, we want to look at THREE things briefly.
A. HIS PERSONAL MESSAGE
Verses 17-20 “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. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 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.”
B. HIS PROVIDENTIAL MERCY
Verses 21-22 “And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.”
C. HIS POWERFUL MINISTRY
Verses 23-31 “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. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 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, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 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. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
Conclusion:
I. THE PEOPLE
A. SAVED FROM THE STORM
B. SAVED FROM THE SNAKE
C. THE SICKNESS
II. THE PLACE
A. HIS PERSONAL MESSAGE
B. HIS PROVIDENTIAL MERCY
C. HIS POWERFUL MINISTRY
