Study No. 32 The Last Chapter (of an unfinished Story) Acts Chapter 28
In this study we arrive at the last page of the first chapter of church history. Luke's unfinished book introduces us to the whole record of the history of the church which continues to this day.
In the previous study we left Paul and company shipwrecked on a sandbar. This was a result of a storm that lasted for weeks. Now the ship is breaking up by virtue of massive breakers crashing over the rear of the ship. Those who could swim were told to go. Others were instructed to take hold of anything that floated and make for shore. Paul, Julius (the centurion), Luke, Aristarchus and all the soldiers, crew and passengers arrive safely on the beach … just as the angel had said. There were 276 persons in all, and no lives were lost.
1-6
Once they arrive on land they discover they are on the isle of Malta (see map).
They have been driven across a large expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. You will notice, however, that they are not out of the way for their journey to Rome.
The group will spend 3 months on this island. Some interesting things take place here. The word that best describes this time is the word ‘healing’. Healing began with the apostle Paul as he was healed from the bite of a poisonous snake. The people here are being hospitable. They have built a large fire to warm and dry the survivors. The snake may have been dormant in armload of sticks that Paul was carrying …or it may have been thrown into the fire by someone else and just ‘came to life’ about the time Paul leaned over to throw his sticks onto the fire.
A healing took place. No words were spoken over Paul, there was no prayer … but there certainly was a healing. God is the healer and we cannot develop or write formulas for God to follow.
Luke refers to these people as ‘barbarians’. (other translations use various other words such as ‘islanders, natives, foreigners etc.) The actual word is ‘βαρβαρος’ barbaros.
What we see happening on the isle of Malta is clearly a fulfillment of scripture.
Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Many have misread that passage in Mark, and have taken it to mean that this series of signs and miraculous wonders ought to accompany anyone who believes the Gospel.
This has never been true. In reality these are the ‘signs’ of an apostle.
2 Corinthians 12:11 ¶ I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
12 The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.
When we take the Mark passage in its context it makes a huge difference in our understanding of it.
When we take it ONLY from verse 17 onwards … it creates a huge confusion within the church and creates a distortion of truth. Many individuals and churches and even denominations have stumbled over this passage. The NIV and other more modern translations have left out all of the verses from 17 to the end of the chapter. While it is true that many reliable manuscripts do not contain these verses, many other reliable manuscripts include them.
I believe we can come to a correct understanding of this subject without having to remove the verses from our Bibles.
Let’s look at these verses in their proper context.
What is the subject of verse 14? It is unbelief versus belief. Belief of what? Some did not believe the testimony of those who said Jesus is alive. Jesus scolded them for that. And then he said to the group standing right in front of him … (Those of you who believe, is implied here) “Go into all the world. And … (you who are believing that I have risen from the dead,) will do things that will validate your message (verse 20) … that I in fact have risen from the dead.
Essentially he is speaking to the apostles, the believing apostles, when he said these signs would follow.
The signs did two things,
1. Confirmed the spoken word – in other words, the message which we preach concerning the son of God, the Almighty is true, and to prove it, see what the Almighty can do! (Mark 16:20)
2. Verified the authority of the apostles. Since it was the church leaders who had the ability to perform the signs, this would create respect and credibility toward them. The things which they would say and do in the planting and establishing of a new church could be accepted, respected, and obeyed.
Let’s try to remember this for the next time that someone says you are not a real believer unless you have these ‘signs’ evident in you life.
Getting back to the natives of Malta … these people were prepared and ready to receive the gospel. Although they were in spiritual darkness, it might better be described as an emptiness or a vacuum. The pagans of our own world are different. They have entered into a darkness much deeper. They have filled their mind with philosophies to the extent they reject everything else. Romans 1:14-29 is a fairly lengthy passage but important that we read it to understand the kind of pagans we are dealing with all around us.
The people of Malta had a theological position regarding the snake hanging from Paul’s hand. “Calamity is always proof of evil”. People are not much different today in theories and beliefs and superstitions. Knock on wood.
When Paul does not drop dead he is regarded as a god. This is not the first time disciples were called gods. Barnabas and Paul were called Jupiter and Mercury at one point. Luke does not mention a time of explaining to them that they were just humans. The narrative just moves on from there.
7-10
In the house of Publius (his father’s house, actually) another ‘sign’ of an apostle was demonstrated; "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
We don’t know if Publius was of the same nationality of the natives of Malta or not. What we do know is that he is the Roman governor of the island. That being the case, it is quite likely that Julius, the centurion, had a conversation with him, filling him in, not only on the details of their voyage, but on just who Paul is and how he figured into this whole experience. This would be quite a ‘jump start’ for Paul in evangelizing the people.
Publius’ father had symptoms very much in accord with what we know as the flu today. Paul laid hands on him and he was instantly healed. Jesus did the same years earlier for Peter’s mother-in-law. But as news spread and many others are healed … a totally different word for healing is used. The first word means instant healing. The one used for the rest of the people is a word indicating gradual healing. Luke, being a physician may have been used to help with this. So what we see is a unique combination of medical skill and divine healing. This is a blending of two wonderful gifts of God without any contradiction. Both methods of healing come from God and we need to credit Him accordingly.
After wintering there, the narrative continues;
11-14a
At Puteoli Paul and the group … including of course, the centurion, visit for seven days with believers. I find it noteworthy that Julius permits this. And I find it noteworthy that there are disciples in Italy some 130 miles from Rome. Christianity has been spreading and a huge proportion of the church planting has not been done by apostles.
From here they will walk or find some other form of transportation.
14b – 15
Paul’s arrival in Rome
He is encouraged and accompanied by believers who heard he was coming and came to meet him. Paul may have had reason to be somewhat fearful because by now he would have heard that Agustus has been replaced by Nero. In Rome he says good-bye to Julius and is turned over to a new guard.
16 – 22
Here we have evidence of Paul’s constant priority as he stated it to the Romans in his letter … to the Jew first and also to the Greek..." (Romans 1:16)
Paul makes clear it was the Jews who were against him, not he against them. He had no charge to bring against his nation. Isn't that amazing? How gracious is his forgiving spirit! The zealous Jews had hounded him, had him beaten and stoned and he has no bad word against them at all. He points out the real reason for their anger …
"For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain." (Acts 28:20 RSV)
The ‘Messiah’ issue still evokes heated responses to this day. And today, like then, some Jews are believing and others oppose.
23 – 24
What a bible study!
25-29
Paul quotes Isaiah 6:9,10
Ac 28:26 "saying, ‘Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
Why? He goes on to explain,
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
People deliberately close their minds. We have all done this at times. How blessed we are to have the patient, loving and persistent Holy Spirit to break up our hard hearts so that we can receive God’s truth.
30-31
Ac 28:30 ¶ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Without hindrance? He was chained. He was limited to one house and perhaps a yard. Unhindered? What a wonderful statement. It was during this time that he wrote Ephesians, Colossians, and the letter to Philippians. His letters are filled with joy without one word regarding prison life.
But this statement is true today … the Word of God is never bound.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Isa 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
The book of Acts is a history that is still being written. You and I are being written into it. What a privilege!
In the previous study we left Paul and company shipwrecked on a sandbar. This was a result of a storm that lasted for weeks. Now the ship is breaking up by virtue of massive breakers crashing over the rear of the ship. Those who could swim were told to go. Others were instructed to take hold of anything that floated and make for shore. Paul, Julius (the centurion), Luke, Aristarchus and all the soldiers, crew and passengers arrive safely on the beach … just as the angel had said. There were 276 persons in all, and no lives were lost.
1-6
Once they arrive on land they discover they are on the isle of Malta (see map).
They have been driven across a large expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. You will notice, however, that they are not out of the way for their journey to Rome.
The group will spend 3 months on this island. Some interesting things take place here. The word that best describes this time is the word ‘healing’. Healing began with the apostle Paul as he was healed from the bite of a poisonous snake. The people here are being hospitable. They have built a large fire to warm and dry the survivors. The snake may have been dormant in armload of sticks that Paul was carrying …or it may have been thrown into the fire by someone else and just ‘came to life’ about the time Paul leaned over to throw his sticks onto the fire.
A healing took place. No words were spoken over Paul, there was no prayer … but there certainly was a healing. God is the healer and we cannot develop or write formulas for God to follow.
Luke refers to these people as ‘barbarians’. (other translations use various other words such as ‘islanders, natives, foreigners etc.) The actual word is ‘βαρβαρος’ barbaros.
What we see happening on the isle of Malta is clearly a fulfillment of scripture.
Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Many have misread that passage in Mark, and have taken it to mean that this series of signs and miraculous wonders ought to accompany anyone who believes the Gospel.
This has never been true. In reality these are the ‘signs’ of an apostle.
2 Corinthians 12:11 ¶ I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
12 The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.
When we take the Mark passage in its context it makes a huge difference in our understanding of it.
When we take it ONLY from verse 17 onwards … it creates a huge confusion within the church and creates a distortion of truth. Many individuals and churches and even denominations have stumbled over this passage. The NIV and other more modern translations have left out all of the verses from 17 to the end of the chapter. While it is true that many reliable manuscripts do not contain these verses, many other reliable manuscripts include them.
I believe we can come to a correct understanding of this subject without having to remove the verses from our Bibles.
Let’s look at these verses in their proper context.
What is the subject of verse 14? It is unbelief versus belief. Belief of what? Some did not believe the testimony of those who said Jesus is alive. Jesus scolded them for that. And then he said to the group standing right in front of him … (Those of you who believe, is implied here) “Go into all the world. And … (you who are believing that I have risen from the dead,) will do things that will validate your message (verse 20) … that I in fact have risen from the dead.
Essentially he is speaking to the apostles, the believing apostles, when he said these signs would follow.
The signs did two things,
1. Confirmed the spoken word – in other words, the message which we preach concerning the son of God, the Almighty is true, and to prove it, see what the Almighty can do! (Mark 16:20)
2. Verified the authority of the apostles. Since it was the church leaders who had the ability to perform the signs, this would create respect and credibility toward them. The things which they would say and do in the planting and establishing of a new church could be accepted, respected, and obeyed.
Let’s try to remember this for the next time that someone says you are not a real believer unless you have these ‘signs’ evident in you life.
Getting back to the natives of Malta … these people were prepared and ready to receive the gospel. Although they were in spiritual darkness, it might better be described as an emptiness or a vacuum. The pagans of our own world are different. They have entered into a darkness much deeper. They have filled their mind with philosophies to the extent they reject everything else. Romans 1:14-29 is a fairly lengthy passage but important that we read it to understand the kind of pagans we are dealing with all around us.
The people of Malta had a theological position regarding the snake hanging from Paul’s hand. “Calamity is always proof of evil”. People are not much different today in theories and beliefs and superstitions. Knock on wood.
When Paul does not drop dead he is regarded as a god. This is not the first time disciples were called gods. Barnabas and Paul were called Jupiter and Mercury at one point. Luke does not mention a time of explaining to them that they were just humans. The narrative just moves on from there.
7-10
In the house of Publius (his father’s house, actually) another ‘sign’ of an apostle was demonstrated; "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
We don’t know if Publius was of the same nationality of the natives of Malta or not. What we do know is that he is the Roman governor of the island. That being the case, it is quite likely that Julius, the centurion, had a conversation with him, filling him in, not only on the details of their voyage, but on just who Paul is and how he figured into this whole experience. This would be quite a ‘jump start’ for Paul in evangelizing the people.
Publius’ father had symptoms very much in accord with what we know as the flu today. Paul laid hands on him and he was instantly healed. Jesus did the same years earlier for Peter’s mother-in-law. But as news spread and many others are healed … a totally different word for healing is used. The first word means instant healing. The one used for the rest of the people is a word indicating gradual healing. Luke, being a physician may have been used to help with this. So what we see is a unique combination of medical skill and divine healing. This is a blending of two wonderful gifts of God without any contradiction. Both methods of healing come from God and we need to credit Him accordingly.
After wintering there, the narrative continues;
11-14a
At Puteoli Paul and the group … including of course, the centurion, visit for seven days with believers. I find it noteworthy that Julius permits this. And I find it noteworthy that there are disciples in Italy some 130 miles from Rome. Christianity has been spreading and a huge proportion of the church planting has not been done by apostles.
From here they will walk or find some other form of transportation.
14b – 15
Paul’s arrival in Rome
He is encouraged and accompanied by believers who heard he was coming and came to meet him. Paul may have had reason to be somewhat fearful because by now he would have heard that Agustus has been replaced by Nero. In Rome he says good-bye to Julius and is turned over to a new guard.
16 – 22
Here we have evidence of Paul’s constant priority as he stated it to the Romans in his letter … to the Jew first and also to the Greek..." (Romans 1:16)
Paul makes clear it was the Jews who were against him, not he against them. He had no charge to bring against his nation. Isn't that amazing? How gracious is his forgiving spirit! The zealous Jews had hounded him, had him beaten and stoned and he has no bad word against them at all. He points out the real reason for their anger …
"For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain." (Acts 28:20 RSV)
The ‘Messiah’ issue still evokes heated responses to this day. And today, like then, some Jews are believing and others oppose.
23 – 24
What a bible study!
25-29
Paul quotes Isaiah 6:9,10
Ac 28:26 "saying, ‘Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
Why? He goes on to explain,
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
People deliberately close their minds. We have all done this at times. How blessed we are to have the patient, loving and persistent Holy Spirit to break up our hard hearts so that we can receive God’s truth.
30-31
Ac 28:30 ¶ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Without hindrance? He was chained. He was limited to one house and perhaps a yard. Unhindered? What a wonderful statement. It was during this time that he wrote Ephesians, Colossians, and the letter to Philippians. His letters are filled with joy without one word regarding prison life.
But this statement is true today … the Word of God is never bound.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Isa 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
The book of Acts is a history that is still being written. You and I are being written into it. What a privilege!