September 13, 2020

 Happy Sunday

Completion of the book of Acts.

It is has been a journey filled with wonderful events. God is so intelligent and smart. I have enjoyed this book. 

• Pentecost Sunday
• The Acts of the apostles
• The spread of the gospel
• Miraculous events, signs and wonders
• Paul defense, Paul's encounter with opposition. 

Acts 27 & 28 

After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: Men you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you 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 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. 

The Shipwreck

On the fourteenth nigh 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 a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet 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 solders, Unless these men say 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. 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. 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. 

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. But the ship struck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. 

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely. 

Paul Ashore on Malta

Acts 28

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a  pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, this man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess of Justice has not allowed him to live. But as Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 

The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing  unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. There was an estate nearby that belonged to Pulius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His Father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery, Paul when in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. 

Paul's Arrival In Rome

After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island-it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Polux. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a solider to guard him. 

Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard

Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them; My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving of death. The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. 

They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect. 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 about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

He tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth  to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: 

Go to this people and say, 

you will be ever hearing but never

understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never

perceiving. 

For this people hearts has become 

calloused; 

they hardly hear with their ears, 

and they have closed their eyes, 

otherwise they might see with their eyes, 

hear with their ears, 

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them. 

Therefore 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! 

Paul went through a lot; and it is important to know what to do if you find yourself facing an accusation. Most of the time when you are serving God and doing good some special person will allow the devil to use them and they will accuse you. It is amazing how much people go along with the accuser but real people understand life and circumstances.  

It seems.... this happens often to believers. I have had people accuse me of things that is impossible. Sometimes I wonder how in the world did they come up with that. The stories are so far fetched and impossible; but there are people who have dark minds and anything is possible for them to think on.  

I noticed from this passage that the Jews that accused Paul often times changed their story a lot; and they were determine to kill him. But he did nothing worthy of death but they wanted to kill him the accusation is just a front. I love how Felix and Fetus gave Paul the opportunity to defend himself. 

I have heard people say.... well Jesus said turn the other cheek. Or what they think about you is not your business. But if someone use my name in a manner unworthy of me it is my business. My name belongs to me. I have every right to defend me. Turning the other cheek needs to be put in context. What happens when you are dealing with aggressive religious people or non believers you have to be firm but able to provide a defense to what they say about you. Paul could have been killed if he just surrender to what they said about him. 

 Jesus defended himself and he addressed what they said about him. There is nothing wrong with that. If a person has the guts to accuse you then they should have the courage to face you and we must have a defense ready for what they say. 

But remember Paul's model

• He gave them grace
• He did not get impatient with them
• he did not curse them
• He did tell them that they were wrong 
• He did not throw dirt at them
• He did not expose them
• but thankfully Fetus and Felix already knew the truth
• don't just accept what the enemy says about you; counter it and fight it. 

A defense with a testimony 

I am a believer and sometimes the enemy wants others to think I'm bad. He wants to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants to make us worthless. Sometimes we get into situations but he portrays wrongly denying all the facts. He ignores all the good things about you. And he loves to broadcast everything bad. He shouts it to anybody that will listen to his garbage. But I like to remind myself..... I walk in the truth. I do not walk or live in a house of lies but I dwell on a high hill engulfed with light. The Lord shadow covers me. His word rest in my heart and my soul shall not fret. Though my enemy rise he shall fall. He will come after me but he will stumble and fall away. I will rest and abide in the shadow of the almighty. I will look to the hills....Oh hills my help comes from the Lord. I will look to the mountains....Oh mountains my help comes from the Lord. The enemy strikes our heel but the Lord says we can crush his head. The enemy is low to the ground. God is high up. We shall tread over serpents, scorpions, and all the powers of the devil. My feet shall tread over serpents. 

Have a great day!

Its okay to have a defense with a testimony; sometimes doing good brings out the worst in people. At some point in your Christian walk we encounter folks who speak falsehood. Shame on them but its okay to prepare a defense.