'I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!' For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28.28-30, NIV.)
These chapters describe Paul's harrowing sea journey, his miraculous survival, and his final arrival in Rome, where he continues his ministry while awaiting trial before Caesar.
Paul is on a series of ships on his way to Rome. I used to make this journey 60 years when I had the travel company; for me it took 3 days, but look what it was like for Paul. They’ve arrived in Crete and Paul warns them it is now too dangerous to proceed with the journey, but those in authority refuse to listen to him. And having set sail on a favourable wind, they encountered hurricane force winds - as we know from our own lives favourable circumstances can very quickly turn into storms. As the captain ordered the ship to be lightened, Paul responds ‘Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.’ (Acts 27:21-26, NIV.)
I learnt this lesson when I was in prison. After 4 months God showed me when I would be released; He later confirmed this promise through the Scripture; God did what He promised.
On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was forty metres deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was thirty metres deep. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, ‘Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.’ So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. ‘For the last fourteen days,’ he said, ‘you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food – you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.’ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. (Acts 27:27-38, NIV.)
The survivors land on the island of Malta. The locals show them great hospitality. While gathering wood for a fire, Paul is bitten by a viper, but he shakes it off and suffers no harm, astonishing the onlookers, who first thought he would die, but then consider him a god.
In verse 7, Paul heals the father of Publius, the island's chief official, and other sick people on the island. The people of Malta honour them and provide supplies for their journey. After three months on Malta, Paul and the others board another ship and eventually reach Rome.
In Rome, Paul is allowed to live under house arrest, guarded by a soldier but free to receive visitors. He calls together the local Jewish leaders and explains his situation, affirming that he is not against the Jewish people or their customs but is imprisoned because of the hope of Israel – the resurrection. Some of the Jews are convinced by Paul’s message, while others reject it. Paul spends two years in Rome, continuing to preach the kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ without hindrance.
Paul was probably born around the same time as Jesus. It is estimated that he was executed when he was 65. He must have ministered the Gospel for about 30 years.
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus, (v23): All the truths of our faith are in the Old Testament. We are now living in the age preceding the Second Coming of Christ. There are more references in the Old Testament to His return than to His birth. Many people in the Church do not believe in the near return of Christ, in much the same way that many of the Jews who heard Paul speak in Rome didn’t believe his preaching. ‘Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave…’ (v24-25).
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:30-31, NIV.)