ACTS 27

1. Paul Took Up Serpents on Malta as Apostle (1-6).
2. Paul Healed the Sick on Malta as Apostle (7-10).
3. Paul Arrived Safely in Rome with Liberty (11-16).
4. Paul Testified to Jewish Elders in Rome (17-29).
5. Paul Preached in Rome with Freedom(30-31).

 

ACTS 28

1. Paul Took Up Serpents on Malta as Apostle (1-6).
2. Paul Healed the Sick on Malta as Apostle (7-10).
3. Paul Arrived Safely in Rome with Liberty (11-16).
4. Paul Testified to Jewish Elders in Rome (17-29).
5. Paul Preached in Rome with Freedom(30-31).

 

1. Because Paul appealed to Caesar, Agrippa and Festus sent him to Rome (27:1-6).
   1. Luke went with Paul, as he wrote in the first person that we should sail into Italy.
      1. Luke had arrived in Jerusalem with the apostle two years earlier (21:17-18).
      2. Since Paul and certain other prisoners were delivered, Luke was not of them.
      3. Aristarchus of Thessalonica was with them (19:29; 20:4; Col 4:10; Phile 1:24).
   2. Cornelius was of the Italian band (10:1); Julius was of a band named for Augustus.
      1. A band was a sixth of a Legion or 600 soldiers, which means it had 6 centuries
      2. A band was also called a cohort in the Roman army, made up of 600 soldiers.
   3. They were put on a ship based in Adramyttium (port of Aegean Sea near Troas).
   4. he intent was to sail by the coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) for business.
   5. They stopped the second day at Sidon, where Elisha had lived (Luke 4:26; 6:17).
      1. Julius, the Roman centurion, courteously entreated (to beg) Paul to visit friends.
      2. This sounds more like a cruise than a Roman prison ship for capital criminals.
      3. The Lord took care of Paul with pagans, just as He did with Joseph and Daniel.
      4. When a man’s ways please God, He can make his enemies his friends (Pr 16:7).
   6. Due to the nature of sailing, contrary winds forced their longer, circuitous route.
      1. Sailing under Cyprus was going around it, not straight across the Med to Myra.
      2. Sailing over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia clearly indicates this longer route.
      3. Though it was the Mediterranean, it had local names after the coastal provinces.
      4. If they had sailed directly from Sidon to Myra, they would have gone south of Cyprus with it on their right hand, but they went north of it with it on the left.
      5. They could not go directly across the Med due to contrary winds clearly stated.
      6. The nautical sense of under is to sail close and downwind from land for shelter.
      7. This gains the benefit of the lee, or protected and sheltered side of land away from the wind; in English it is usually under the lee or leeward of [Cyprus].
      8. Sailing under Cyprus can mean sailing downwind of it to avoid north-westerly winds common that time of year, which Luke called contrary to the direct route.
      9. We understand this as well for two more occurrences on this trip (Acts 27:7,16).
      10. The next stop after Sidon was Myra of Lycia, a port on the south of Asia Minor.
      11. Here Julius transferred Paul, Luke, Aristarchus to a ship of Alexandria, Egypt.
2. Sailing on a new ship, Paul foretold danger for the ship and passengers (27:7-13).
   1. With unfavorable winds, they advanced only to Cnidus after many days of sailing.
      1. Over against is an expression for opposite to a place, thus near it but not there.
      2. Cnidus was a city and promontory off the cost of Asia Minor. See the map.
   2. Turning south, they sailed under the island of Crete to The fair havens and Lasea.
      1. As with sailing under Cyprus above (27:4), they sailed close to it under its lee.
      2. Salmone is the eastern tip of Crete, a very visible promontory when in the sea.
      3. A promontory is a high piece of land jutting into the sea beyond the coastline.
      4. They sailed south of Crete passing the eastern end of Salmone, over against it.
      5. The fair havens was a safe place to stop, and it was a few miles from Lasea.
      6. Though its name was fair havens, it was not very fair, thus the following debate.
   3. Due to contrary winds, many days had been lost and it was now dangerous sailing.
      1. They have had a difficult time at several points with poor wind for sailing (4,7).
      2. The fast was the Day of Atonement, in our October (Lev 16:29-31; 23:27-28).
      3. It was after the autumnal equinox, when the Mediterranean became dangerous.
      4. Mariners then and now confirm that this fall time of year is dangerous sailing.
      5. Paul warned them to stay with a spirit of prophecy of the risk to sail this late.
      6. He warned with spiritual perception that there would be hurt and much damage.
      7. He warned the cargo and ship would be greatly damaged and lives endangered.
   4. Paul is overridden by the ship’s owner, the centurion, and a majority of the crew.
      1. Like the owners of the Titanic, the ship owner was too confident of his vessel.
      2. And a majority of the sailors agreed, for the fair havens was not a winter port.
      3. The goal was to sail to Phenice, a port on Crete’s south coast, for the winter.
      4. It was a very safe harbor, as it contained a right angle to protect from storms.
      5. When a gentle wind came in their favor, they presumed they had their choice.
      6. But confident leaders, majority votes, and early positive circumstances can lie.
      7. Showing all due precaution to increase their odds, they sailed close to shore.
      8. When God’s word is given, and you reject it, be sure your sin will find you out.
      9. i. Famous Last Words for the confident … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/famous-last-words.pdf.
      10. j. Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/be-sure-your-sin4.pdf.
3. Paul and company meet an incredible storm in the Mediterranean (27:14-20).
   1. The Lord sent a great tempestuous and contrary wind that beat against Crete.
      1. Euroclydon was a great storm we would call a hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone.
      2. The wind caught the ship so they could not tack into it, so they let it run free.
      3. Clauda was a small island southwest of Crete, which they passed on the south.
      4. As with sailing under islands above (27:4,7), they sailed close to it under its lee.
      5. heir lifeboat, used for going to shore, was with great difficulty taken on deck.
      6. They tried to strengthen the ship with cables to hold the wooden ship together.
      7. Fearing quicksands (large sand reefs) near Africa, they dropped all their sails.
      8. So the ship was driven by the wind against her mast and poles without sails.
   2. Being terribly tossed with this storm, on the second day they dumped some cargo.
   3. Being terribly tossed with this storm, on the third day they cast out the tackling.
   4. The sun and stars (day and night) were not seen for many days, causing despair.
   5. But in the midst of despair and fear, Paul found comfort from the Lord he served.
   6. Fear is not a sin, if you put your trust in God when afraid (Ps 56:3; I Samuel 30:6).
4. Paul prophesied they would wreck on an island with all aboard saved (27:21-38).

1. He first reminded them he had warned of this calamity at The fair havens (9-10).

a. Paul’s purpose was not be arrogant or to rub in the trouble they had chosen.

b. They needed to be reminded of his divine gifts, for he would prophesy again.

2. Paul fasted long to the Lord and then was granted a comforting vision by an angel.

a. He exhorted them to good cheer, for they would all be saved, but not the ship.

b. He identified Himself with the God able to send angels and give such visions.

c. He identified Himself as the most important passenger and the others as extras.

d. The conclusion of such promises is this: Be of good cheer, for I believe God!

e. God will also take care of you, if you can say, whose I am, and whom I serve.

3. On the fourteenth night, the sailors could tell that they were approaching land.

a. Adria is the Adriatic Sea; back then it extended from Italy and Greece to Africa.

b. They were not in the Adriatic Sea as we limit it, for they were very near Malta.

c. Some contend instead for Mljet, an island in the Adriatic off Dalmatia’s coast.

d. If we limit Adria to our maps; it is limiting behemoth and leviathan to our zoos.

e. They sounded in those days without radar or sonar, but by lines and weights.

f. A fathom is from the middle finger of each hand with arms stretched out wide, or approximately six feet on the average man.

g. With only crucial tackling left, they used four anchors to keep from wrecking.

4. The sailors try to escape by using the lifeboat under guise of casting more anchors.

a. Paul informs the centurion that all must be kept in the ship for total salvation.

b. God will gloriously vindicate and magnify Paul without use of natural means.

c. With Julius now trusting Paul, the soldiers cut the ropes and let the lifeboat go.

d. Consider wisely (1) conditions for God’s promises and (2) salvation by grace.

5. Paul exhorted all the passengers to eat and trust God for a safe, crash landing.

a. They would need strength to swim to shore, so Paul urged food on them.

b. We have a godly hyperbole that not a hair from any head would perish.

c. Paul gave a wonderful example by taking bread, thanking God, and eating!

d. And look at the effect he had on the rest of the men. They took cheer and ate.

e. There were 276 on board, and when they had eaten, they cast out the food.

 

E. They were shipwrecked on the island of Malta, but all 276 were safe (27:39-44).

1. With the light of day, they are able to see the land, but they do not recognize it yet.

2. They aim for a creek with the remaining rudder and mainsail to avoid wrecking.

3. They ran aground, which allowed the sea to smash the ship in the rear and break it.

4. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to fulfill their duty of not losing even one.

5. But Julius the centurion has come to trust Paul by the grace of God and saved him.

6. The swimmers were urged to dive in and swim; the rest came on parts of the ship.

7. All men – 276 – escaped this violent storm and shipwreck to make it safe to land.

8. God providentially saved all hands for Julius’ sake for Paul’s sake in Rome. Glory!

 

F. Paul was magnified by Jesus before Malta’s people by taking up a viper (28:1-6).

1. After the 276 men on board the ship made it to shore, they learned it was Malta.

2. Barbarians in the N.T. did not know Greek or Latin (Romans 1:14; I Cor 14:11).

3. These strangers showed kind hospitality with a fire to warm and dry all 276 men.

4. As Paul laid some sticks on the fire, the heat drove a viper to latch onto his hand.

a. A viper is generally a venomous or poisonous snake, a good snake for a show.

b. Venomous is the ability to inject venom or poison by a bite for pain or death.

5. The Lord Jesus had promised His apostles would take up serpents (Mark 16:18).

a. This was one of the great signs promised to accompany the Great Commission.

b. Such gifts were designed to confirm the apostles (Mark 16:14-20; Heb 2:4).

c. Certain segments of the Pentecostals have taken this sign gift as still existing.

d. As their followers die from snake bites, they simply blame a lack of faith.

e. Inconsistent Charismatics only use certain signs they can fake without danger.

f. Paul did not seek the viper to tempt the Lord in an assembly of believers.

g. God providentially sent the viper, and Paul simply shook it off into the fire.

h. The miracle was visible before viper experts, who watched for a great while.

6. When the Barbarians saw a viper on Paul’s hand, they fatalistically saw vengeance.

a. As Job’s three friends, they falsely presumed the evil was only the result of sin.

b. Presuming him a murderer, they saw Fate using a viper rather than shipwreck.

c. It is a worse shame when Christians assume affliction with any negative event.

7. When Paul had no harm from the viper’s bite, they showed their great superstition.

a. Instead of thinking him a murderer, they now presumed he must be a god.

b. They sound like Nebuchadnezzar and his great extremes (Dan 3:14-15,28-30).

c. Without the more sure Word as our solid foundation, we would move as far.

8. God magnified Paul with this miracle before the unbelievers on this pagan island.

 

G. Paul was magnified by Jesus before the Maltese by healing their sick (28:7-10).

1. They were lodged three days courteously by Publius, the chief man of the island.

2. Paul healed the father of Publius with another clear demonstration of God’s power.

a. He had a fever and a severe case of dysentery, which Paul was able to cure.

b. Paul prayed to show his dependence on God’s power for the healing miracle.

c. Paul laid his hands on him to fulfill the apostolic promise (Mark 16:18).

3. When this miracle was known, others came and were also healed of their diseases.

4. They gave them many honors and loaded them abundantly with needed provisions.

5. The Lord Jesus took care of Paul with honor and esteem and all things needed.

 

H. Paul arrived safely in Rome by the providential mercy of God on him (28:11-16).

1. Paul and company stayed on the island of Malta for more than three months.

2. Paul’s third ship was based out of Alexandria, Egypt and had wintered in Malta.

3. Castor and Pollux were the pagan Greek twin sons of Jupiter who protected sailors.

4. From Malta, Paul was taken to the eastern port of Syracuse on the island of Sicily.

5. From Syracuse, the ship took a circuitous route to maintain course to Rhegium.

6. From Rhegium, the ship sailed rapidly with good winds to Puteoli, near Naples.

7. At Puteoli, Paul met brethren who kept him seven days before he went to Rome.

8. When believers in Rome heard he was coming, they went 56 miles to Appii forum.

a. Paul had not been to Rome, but he had written an epistle to them years earlier.

b. Their great affection for Paul was shown by attentiveness and distant greeting.

c. When Paul saw such affection and loyalty, he found courage and thanked God.

d. Who can you visit to bless them and you later (I Sam 23:16; Matt 25:31-46)?

9. In Rome, while other prisoners were put in common hold, Paul was given liberty.

a. The other prisoners were quickly processed by Caesar’s captain of the guard.

b. Paul was allowed to rent a house and live by himself with just his own soldier.

c. Consider what this centurion named Julius has seen over the last few months.

d. Paul’s prophecies, cheer, holding sailors, saving all passengers, miracles, etc.

 

I. Paul called the Jewish leaders in Rome to explain his legal situation (28:17-29).

1. He explained to sympathetic Jews that he was in Roman hands by Jewish betrayal.

2. He further explained that his chains were due to his teaching the hope of Israel.

a. This expression, the hope of Israel, is of great importance to rightly know Jews.

b. The Zionists make the hope of Israel a safe Jewish nation in the Middle East.

c. The Orthodox go further to include the fantasy of a third Mosaic temple to God.

d. Dispensationalists and Scofieldites dream of Jewish supremacy in a Millennium. e. For Gospel Millennium … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/prophecy/gospel-millennium/sermon.php. f. For more Scofield Lies … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/scofield-lies.pdf. g. For the Israel of God … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/true-israel.pdf. h. For the Seed of Abraham … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/prophecy/seed-of-abraham.php.

3. These Jews knew nothing of the charges brought against him in Judea by the Jews.

a. The Jews had been successively defied by Lysias, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa.

b. They must have given up their case and not made any efforts in the capital.

c. Since Claudius Caesar had rejected them (Acts 18:2), they likely feared Rome.

4. These Jews were curious about Christianity – the sect or cult everywhere despised.

a. Sect. A religious following; adherence to a particular religious teacher or faith.

b. It has generally been used in recent centuries for denomination, not a slur term.

c. Paul called the Pharisees the most conservative sect of the Jews’ religion (26:5).

d. And the Jews called Paul a leader of the sect called Nazarenes, of Nazareth (24:5).

e. Both Sadducees and Pharisees were called sects by the Holy Spirit (5:17; 15:5).

f. Cult is a vague word like sect, but used today as a cheap slur by the ignorant.

g. Cult. 1. Worship; reverential homage rendered to a divine being or beings. Obs. 2. A particular form or system of religious worship; esp. in reference to its external rites and ceremonies. 3. transf. Devotion or homage to a particular person or thing, now esp. as paid by a body of professed adherents or admirers.

h. Those who write or talk about cults use it as a slur word without understanding.

i. Calling a church or denomination a cult does not prove anything of value at all.

j. It should not surprise us that holding to Scripture only will result in our ridicule.

5. Paul taught the Jewish leadership in Rome about Jesus and the kingdom of God.

a. The kingdom of God is reign and rule of Jesus now, not a millennial kingdom.

b. The kingdom of God was foretold and fulfilled (Dan 2:44; Mk 1:15; Lu 16:16).

c. Paul used the entire day to show as much evidence as possible from the O.T.

d. As always, Jesus caused a division (John 7:40-44; 9:16; 10:19; Acts 17:4-5).

e. Let us never forget God’s mercy in causing us to believe (II Thess 2:13-14).

f. Paul summarized their lack of faith as fulfilling Isaiah the prophet (Is 6:9-10).

g. And like at Antioch of Pisidia, Paul knew the Gentiles would believe it (13:48).

h. This salvation here is gospel salvation and the preaching of the gospel by men.

i. Only the gospel is carried by men; God’s predestinating grace is not transferred.

 

J. Paul’s biography by Luke is short, who left Paul in a house in Rome (28:30-31).

1. For two years Paul preached and wrote from a rental house in the city of Rome.

2. Paul was given great liberty to preach Jesus Christ without any opposition. Glory!

3. We learn from another epistle that some of Caesar’s house were saved (Phil 4:22).

4. Paul wrote seven epistles from Rome, converted Onesimus, directed ministers, etc.

5. There is anecdotal evidence Paul was freed, traveled again, and was then killed.

6. There is other evidence Pudens and Claudia may have helped evangelize Wales.