Acts 28

I had a good cry last night. Something little happened to start the tears, but then they just continued to flow throughout the night. The reason being, I believe, a couple real tough months, mostly with my health; after 2 1/2 hours in a dentist chair yesterday, I finally gave in to the tension and I let it all out last night. This blog is so far behind where I wanted it to be at the beginning of the year, mostly due to a thousand doctor/dentist appointments before work that is making me feel older than my years. As the dentist was working on my yesterday I tried to pray, I tried to be grateful that I am living in this age of dentistry, but I fell short.

But here we are at the end of Acts. After sailing into St. Paul's Bay, they were received kindly by the natives, until Paul got struck by a viper. The natives believed he was a murderer or something because after surviving the sea he had been struck by the snake to die. But Paul didn't die so then they thought he was a god. Paul began to heal the sick on the island. Fever and dysentery were widespread in the ancient world....making my illnesses look like nothing, I suppose. But remember, Paul is still a prisoner.

They waited three months to sail, went to Syracuse on the way, and finally made it to Rome. "When we (Luke was with them.) entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him." v.16 Luke does not really expand on how it came about but Paul was given huge liberties while awaiting trial before Caesar. "And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered." v. 30-31

The end of Acts.
John MacArthur, "Luke wrote Acts before the end of Paul's first Roman imprisonment (A.D. 60-62). That date is the most natural explanation for the abrupt ending of Acts - which leaves Paul awaiting trial before Caesar. Surely Luke, who devoted more than half of Acts to Paul's ministry, would have given the outcome of that trial, and described Paul's subsequent ministry, second imprisonment and death, if those events had happened before he wrote Acts. Luke's silence about such notable events as the martyrdom of James, head of the Jerusalem church, the persecution under Nero and the fall of Jerusalem (A.D. 70) also suggests he wrote Acts before those events transpired."

Acts 27

Paul is finally loaded onto a boat with other prisoners to set sail to Italy. Jesus had promised him early on that he would return to Rome. Paul had appealed to Caesar, and his wish was being granted.

Acts 27, however, is a detailed account of the awful excursion the ship experienced once it set sail. For 14 days the ship was tossed and turned and began breaking apart. No one on board could eat due to the sea sickness. Paul's last of 6 visions appears here, "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you. " v. 24. Paul encouraged everyone to hang on, "for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish." v. 34 I guess this is where we get out saying " not a hair on your head".

Due to all the bumping and flailing, they do not get to Italy. They land on an island called Malta: an island, 17 miles long and 9 miles wide, about 60 miles south of Sicily. This bay is known today as St. Paul's Bay.

Click on this link to learn more about St. Paul's Bay and see what it looks like today.

http://www.wikipedia.org/search-redirect.php?search=St.+Paul%27s+Bay&language=en&go=++%E2%86%92++&go=Go

Acts 26

Paul goes about, once again, telling his story from Pharisee to Christian, as his defense. He ends with, "that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." v.23 Festus shouts out, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." v.24

Paul assures Festus that he is not out of his mind, "but I utter words of sober truth. For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice, for this has not been done in a corner." v. 26

The king responds by admitting that he knows Paul is trying to convert him. Wow...Paul is not as concerned with his defence as he is in proclaiming The Good News to those who are listening to him. Paul said to Agrippa, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains." v. 29

After Paul's defence, both Agrippa and Festus agreed, "This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment...This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." v. 31

Acts 25

The Sanhedrin plot an ambush on Paul. Hmm...politicians, huh? LOL Felix tries to get him moved to Jerusalem so they could pounce and kill him before he ever gets there. But Paul, before Festus, appeals to Caesar, which was his right as a Roman citizen to be tried before the emperor and in Rome. So their plot was foiled.

Currently, Festus has Paul standing before King Agrippa. I thought this was interesting - helps me see a time line - from John MacArthur: "King Agrippa. Herod Agrippa II, son of the Herod who killed James and imprisoned Peter. He was the last of the Herods, who play a prominent role in NT history. His great-uncle, Herod Anitpas, was the Herod of the gospels, while his great-grandfather, Herod the Great, ruled at the time Jesus was born. Though not the ruler of Judea, Agrippa was well versed in Jewish affairs. Bernice. Not Agrippa's wife, but his consort and sister. (Their sister, Drusilla, was married to the former governor, Felix). Their incestuous relationship was the talk of Rome, where Agrippa grew up. Bernice for a while became the mistress of Emperor Vespasian, then of his son, Titus, but always returned to her brother." Here in Acts 25 King Agrippa enters the auditorium where Paul is to be brought; "So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium..." v23 Note: without the commentary I would have assumed "amid great pomp" was due to the King entering, not the scandal. Wow. How do people like John MacArthur get this stuff. I love the history. Maybe I should read a book on the history of Acts. Anyway...

Festus declares to King Agrippa, "...you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer. Bit I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him." v.24-25 You go Festus!

Acts 24

Well, guys, I have already written this post, saved it as a draft, and when I went back to it, it was gone!! Aaugh!! Not good. I guess God wanted me to reread Acts 24. LOL

The Jewish people hire a lawyer to present their case against Paul before Gov. Felix. The attorney begins by shmoozing Felix...like any good lawyer, right? LOL Wondering why Luke chooses to mention it here. Verses 3-5 The greatest charge the Jews had against Paul was that they claimed he was a rebel and was stirring up sedition (rebellion).

Paul starts his defence; Luke also shows here that Paul did not begin with flattery but reminds Felix that he, the Gov., was very up on Jewish customs and laws. Paul reminds him, " But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." v. 14-15

Note: After reading this post my husband asked about what it meant: The resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. Check out this website: http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1329-the-resurrection-of-the-wicked. Interesting reading. From the few sources I read, Paul is referring to the bodies being raised into eternal life, something the pharisees believed and the sadducees did not. Both kinds of bodies will be resurrected to either stand before God in judgement or stand before God for reward. One commentary said something interesting...they said that those who never heard of God would be judged only on their works while on earth. Sounds good, I just don't know where they got that and if it is Biblical. I do know that God knows the heart.

The great hope of the Jewish people was the resurrection and that is exactly what Paul was giving them. Wow. Would I have recognized it if I had been this first century Jew? Like today, God had to open the hearts and minds of those He was going to call. So since He has called me today, I would have been called then. Paul ends his defense with, "For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today." v.21

Felix keeps Paul in custody, but with some freedoms. Paul witnesses to Felix when summoned. "But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix became frightened..." v. 25 Paul gets on Felix's bad side here, because Felix does not possess these qualities - "Living with a woman he had lured away from her husband, Felix obviously lacked righteousness and self-control." John MacArthur. So Paul stays stuck in prison for 2 more years to the end of the Governor's term.



My Life is in You, Lord!