Coachlight Bible Study - Acts
Chapter 26-27
The
Gospel Goes To Rome
It was determined by the counsel of God, before it
was determined by the counsel of Festus, that Paul should go to Rome. Paul's ministry is marked by many things, but one item always seems to be there
higher than the rest - leadership.
Paul’s leadership emerges on the ship when he was
headed toward Rome. As time went on, as Paul was better known, and as the
crises on board the ship became more pronounced, Paul stepped forward, giving
both direction and hope to all the others on ship. Paul does all this without
any formal leadership position or authority. He was not the captain of the
ship, or one of the soldiers. He was not a sailor; in fact, he was not even a
paying passenger. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar
in Rome.
At the Island of Malta, what happens makes Paul a
leader, once again, among the
passengers. Just as Paul had gained prominence on board the ship, now he would
become prominent in the eyes of those who lived on this island. The sequence of
events which led to this prominence is
outlined for us by Luke in the first 10 verses of Acts chapter 28. Then, in the
next verses (11-15), Luke will describe how Paul and the rest of those on board
that ill-fated ship reached Rome safely.
Finally, in the closing words of this great book
(verses 16-31), Luke will tell of Paul’s meeting with the Jewish leaders in
Rome, of the outcome of this meeting, and of Paul’s ministry in Rome for the
next two full years.
What was it about Paul that made him a leader among
men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? What kind of leadership
did Paul exercise, and how did this advance the gospel? What is the
relationship between “spiritual leadership” and “secular leadership”? What can
we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the
gospel?
I. Paul Sails Toward Rome -
Acts 27:1-3
A. Luke with Paul - the term
"we" - Verse 1
B. Paul and other prisoners
placed in the custody
1. Of Julius
2. Centurion of Augustus’s
band
C.. Went on board a ship of
Adramyttium - Verse 2
1. A sea-port of Africa
2. Syria - a good market for
African goods
3. Mean to sail by coasts of
Asia
D. Aristarchus, voluntary
companion with them
1. A Macedonian
2. He was Paul's companion
being caught in the ampitheatre
Acts 19:29 And the whole city was filled with
confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s
companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
3. He traveled with Paul to
Macedonia and returned with him to Asia
Acts 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater
of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of
Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
4. He was Paul's fellow-prisoner
in Rome
Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you,
and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas,
5. He was Paul's
fellow-labourer
Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you,
and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas
E. They came to a port on
Sidon - Verse 3
1. Julius was very courteous
to Paul
2. Gave him liberty
3. Allowed him to visit with
his friends
II. The Sailing Become
Dangerous - Acts 27:4-9
F. They set sail from Cyprus
- Verse 4
1. The west wind was too
violent to go direct
2. They had approached
Cyprus from the north
3. Would have liked to head
directly for Asia
4. Had to sail around the
island to north
G.Sailed to Myra, a city of
Lycia. - Verse 5
1. South-western part of
Asia Minor
a. Phrygia and Pisidia on
the north
b. Pamphylia on the east
c. Mediterranean on the
south
2. Changed Ships - Verse 6
a. Ship from Alexandria,
Egypt
b. Had a cargo of wheat
c. Ship sailing to Italy
3. Sailed slowly - Verse 7
a. Over against Cnidus.
1. A city standing on a
promontory of the same name in Asia Minor
2. Located in the the
province of Cans called Doris
3. North-west of the island
of Rhodes.
b. Made it to The Fair
Havens - Verse 8
1. A port city
2. On the east of the island
of Crete
c. Sailing was now dangerous
- Verse 9
1. Been detained because
they had to fight the wind
2. Now sailing at the most
dangerous time of the year
d. Now the fast was past -
September 20
1. Jews fast on the Great
Day of Atonement
2. Autumnul equinox -
dangerous sailing
III. Paul Admonishes The Crew - Verse 10
A. This voyage is a hazard
to the ship's cargo
B. This voyage is a hazard
to our lives
C. Paul had experience in
these matters
II Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I
stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
II Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters,
in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the
heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the
sea, in perils among false brethren;
IV. The Sailing Becomes Much
More Dangerous - Acts 27:11-20
A. Centurion did not believe
Paul - Verse 11
B. Centurion believed the
owner of the ship
C. Wanted to sail to Phenice
1. A safer port of Crete - Verse 12
2. To the south west of the
island
3. Northwest -
5566 cwrov choros kho’-ros
of Latin origin;
; n m
AV-north west 1;
1
1) the northwest
wind
2) for the
quarter of the heavens from which the wind blows
D. Encouraged by
a softly blowing south wind - they set sail - Verse 13
E. A wind called Euroclydon came soon - as they
sailed close by Crete - Verse 14
The name
Euroclydon is derived probably from two Greek words, eurov, (eurov) wind, and kludwn, (kludo)a wave; so
called from its agitating and exciting the waves. - like a hurricane
F. Had to let
the ship run with the wind - Verse 15
1. They could
not direct the ship in the wind
2. They let it
run with wind - not trying to control it
G. Made it to
near Clauda - Verse 16
1. Small island
south west of Crete
2. They were
almost not able to secure the boat
3. Undergirdling
the ship - Verse 17
Undergirding the
ship - From Barnes NT Notes
The ancients
were accustomed to pass cables or strong ropes from one side of the ship to
another, to keep the planks from springing or starting by the action of the
sea. The rope was slipped under the prow, and passed along to any part of the
keel which they pleased, and made fast on the deck...An instance of the same
kind is mentioned in Lord Anson’s voyage round the world. Speaking of a Spanish
man-of-war in a storm, he says, "They were obliged to throw overboard all
their upper-deck guns, and take six turns of the cable round the ship, to
prevent her opening."
4. They were
afraid of being driven on a bank of sand- Verse
18
There were two
celebrated quicksands on the coast of Africa, called the greater and lesser.
They were vast beds of sand driven up by the sea, and constantly shifting their
position, so that they could not know certainly where the danger was, and guard
against it. As they were constantly changing their position, they could not be
accurately laid down in a chart.
5. Threw some of
the cargo out of the ship
6. On the third
day - Verse 19
a. Threw out the
tackling - the anchor, sails, cables, baggage, etc.
b. Everything
that was not absolutly necessary
7. All hope is
gone - Verse 20
a. They did not
see the sun or stars for many days to navigate
b. They were
bobarded by a tempestuous storm
V. Paul Speaks Again After
Not Eating For Many Days- Acts 27:21-26
A. You should have listened
to me in the first place - Verse 21
B. You should not have taken
off from Crete
C. Be of good cheer - no one
will be killed - Verse 22
1. I saw an angel of the
Lord tonight - Verse 23
a. I am the Lord's
b. I serve the Lord
2. The angel told me - Verse 24
a. Fear not Paul
b. You must go to Rome
c. All that are with me will
go with me
3. I believe God - It will
happen just like the angel said - Verse
25
4. We will be cast upon an
island - Verse 26
VI. After 14 Days Close to Land - Acts 27:27-30
A. They were tossed in Adria
- Verse 27
In the Adriatic Sea. This sea is properly situated between Italy
and Dalmatia, now called the Adriatic Gulf. But, among the ancients, the name
was given not only to that gulf, but to the whole sea lying between Greece,
Italy, and Africa, including the Sicilian and Ionian Sea. It is evident, from the narrative, that they
were not in the Adriatic Gulf, but somewhere in the vicinity of Malta.
B. The shipman thought they
were near land
C. They sounded and it was
20 fathoms - Verse 28
1. "sounded" - is
uing line and lead for deepth
2. A fathom is about 6'
3. It was about 120' deep
D. After a little more
sounded again
1. 15 fathoms
2. 90' deep
E. Afraid of running into
rocks - Verse 29
1. Cast out 4 anchors
2. wished for daylight to
see how close they were to land
F. Shipman about to leave
the ship - Verse 30
1. Let down the lifeboat
2. Under pretence -
They pretended that it was
necessary to get into the boat, and carry the anchors ahead of the ship so as
to make it secure, but with a real intention to make for the shore.
VII. Paul Speaks To The Centurion and the Soldiers Again - Acts
27:31-38
A. Everyone must stay in the
ship - or they won't make it
B. The soldiers cut off the
ropes of the boat - Verse 32
C. Everyone better break
your fast - Verse 33
1. It's been 14 days since you ate - Verse 34
2. It's for your health
D. Paul takes bread in front
of them all - Verse 35
1. He gave thanks
2. Paul began to eat
3. Everyone ate happily - Verse 36
4. There were 276 people on
board - Verse 37
5. After the meal they threw
the wheat into the sea - Verse 38
VIII. All Made It Safe To Malta- Acts 27:39-28:1
A. They did not see the land
1. Directed the ship into a
bay they saw - Verse 39
2. Took up the anchors - Verse 40
3. Cut loose the anchors
4. Let the sterring
mechanism go
5. Lifted the mainsail to
the wind
B. Ran the ship aground
1. The forward part of the
ship dug into shore - Verse 41
2. The back part broke apart
with the waves
C. Soldiers want to kill the
prisoners - no escapes - Verse 42
D. The centurion wanted to
save Paul - Verse 43
1. Kept the soldiers from
killing the prisoners
2. Commanded them to swim to
shore
E. They all made it to land
- Verse 44
1. Some on boards
2. Some on small pieces of
ship
3. The Island was called
Malta - Chaper 28:1
IX. Paul On The Island of Malta - Acts 28:2-28:6
A. The Barbarians (island)
people showed kindness - Verse 2
1. Language of Maltese was
African
a. Greeks called everyone
that didn't speak Greek barbarians
b. Their language not
understood by Romans or Greeks
2. They built a fire
3. Made them welcome
a. It was cold
b. It was raining
B. Paul Snake Bit - Verse 3
1. Paul got some firewood
2. Threw the wood on the
fire
a. A snake jumped out of the
fire
b. Bit and stayed on Paul's
hand
C. The islanders saw the
snake hung to Paul's hand - Verse 4
1. No doubt this man is a
murderer
2. He has escaped the sea
3. Vengence will
cause him to die - (justice)
1349 dikh dike dee’-kay
probably from 1166;
TDNT-2:178,168; n f
AV-vengeance 2,
judgment 1, punish + 5099 1; 4
1) custom, usage
2) right, just
3) a suit at law
4) a judicial
hearing, judicial decision, esp. sentence of condemnation
5) execution of
a sentence, punishment
5a) to suffer
punishment
6) the goddess
Justice, avenging justice
D. Paul's response
1. He shook off
the snake
2. Felt no harm
- Verse 5
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover.
E. Islander's
response - Verse 6
1. They saw
a. He should
have swollen up
b. He should
have died by now
2. They think he
is a god
X. Father of the Chief Man of the Island is Healed - Acts 28:7-10
A. Publeus - Chief man of
the Island - Verse 7
1. Welcomed them
2. Lodged them 3 days
courteously
B. Publeus' Dad is sick
1. Sick of a fever
2. Bloody flux - Dysentery
C. Paul Prays for Publeus'
Dad - Verse 8
1. Layed hands on him
2. He was healed
D. Others came and were
healed - Verse 9
1. They honored Paul and
company
2. Gave them provisons when
they left - Verse 10
XI. They Leave Malta- Acts 28:11-28:15
A. After three months - Verse 11
1. They left in an
Alexandrian ship
a. It had wintered in the
isle
b. Had castor and pollux on
the bow
It was common to place on
the prow of the ship the image Of some person, or god, whose name the ship
bore. This custom is still observed.
Castor and Pollux. These
were two semi-deities. They were reputed to be twin brothers, sons of Jupiter
and Leda, the wife of Tyndarus, king of Sparta. After their death, they are fabled
to have been translated to heaven, and made constellations under the name of
gemini, or the twins. They then received divine honours, and were called the
sons of Jupiter. They were supposed to preside over sailors, and to be their
protectors; hence it was not uncommon to place their image on ships.
2. Landed at Syracuse (capital of the island of Sicily) for 3 days
- Verse 12
B. They find a compass - Verse 13
1. They went to Rhegium
2. South wind blew after one
day
3. Sailed to Puteoli - Verse 14
a. Found brethern
b. Stayed seven days
c. Brethern heard they were
there - Verse 15
d. Came to see them from as
far as Appiforum and the Three Taverns
4. Paul was contented
a. Thanked God
b. Took courage
C. They made it to Rome
XII. Paul's Witness In Rome - Acts 28:15-28:29
A. Centurion delivered the
prisoners - Verse 16
1. All but Paul to the
Captain of the guard
2. Paul kept by himself with
a soldier guard
3. Paul calls together the
chief of the Jews in three days
B. Paul's speech to the Jews
- Verse 17
1. I have comitted nothing
a. Against the people
b. Against our customs
c. Against our fathers
2. I have been taken from
Jerusalem as prisoner of the Romans - Verse
18
3. The Romans found no cause
for the death penalty
4. The Jews wouldn't have it
5. I was best off apealing
to Ceaser
6. I am not going to accuse
the Jews of anything
7. It is for the hope of
Isreal I am bound with this chain - Verse
20
C. The Jews reply to Paul - Verse 21
1. We did not receive any
letters from Judea concerning you
2. Nobody came by and spoke
harm of you
3. We want to hear what you
think - Verse 22
4. Everybody is speaking
against the Christians
D. Paul is given a day to
testify
1. People came to Paul's
place of residence
2. Paul taught the kingdom
of God - Verse 23
a. Expounded
1620 ektiyhmi ektithemi ek-tith’-ay-mee
from 1537 and 5087; ; v
AV-expound 3,
cast out 1; 4
1) to place or
set out, put outside, expose
2) to set up,
exhibit
3) metaph. to
set forth, declare, expound
b. Testified
1263 diamarturomai diamarturomai dee-am-ar-too’-rom-ahee
from 1223 and 3140;
TDNT-4:510,564; v
AV-testify 11,
charge 3, witness 1; 15
1) to testify
1a) earnestly,
religiously to charge
2) to attest,
testify to, solemnly affirm
2a) to give
solemn testimony to one
2b) to confirm a
thing by testimony, to testify, cause it to be believed
c. Persuading
3982 peiyw peitho pi’-tho
a primary verb;
TDNT-6:1,818; v
AV-persuade 22,
trust 8, obey 7, have confidence 6, believe 3, be confident 2, misc 7; 55
1) persuade
1a) to persuade,
i.e. to induce one by words to believe
1b) to make
friends of, to win one’s favour, gain one’s good will, or to seek to win one,
strive to please one
1c) to
tranquillise
1d) to persuade
unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something
2) be persuaded
2a) to be
persuaded, to suffer one’s self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to
have faith: in a thing
2a1) to believe
2a2) to be
persuaded of a thing concerning a person
2b) to listen
to, obey, yield to, comply with
3) to trust,
have confidence, be confident
E. Inducing them
to believe by words from morning till evening
1. From the Law
of Moses
Genesis
49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from
Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him
shall the gathering of the people be.
2. From the
Prophets
Deuteronomy
18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet
from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth;
and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
F. Some believed
and some did not - Verse 24
G. Paul Spoke
from Isaiah 6:9-10
Isaiah 6:9 ¶ And
he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see
ye indeed, but perceive not.
Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make
their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear
with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Acts 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say,
Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and
not perceive:
Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they
should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Acts28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the
salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
H. The Jews
response - Verse 29
1. Departed
2. Had great
reasoning amoung themselves
XIII. Paul Witnesses For Two More Years- Acts 28:30-31
A. Paul welcomed to his
house all that came
B. Paul preached - Verse 30
2784 khrussw kerusso
kay-roos’-so
of uncertain affinity;
TDNT-3:697,430; v
AV-preach 51, publish 5,
proclaim 2, preached + 2258 2, preacher 1; 61
1) to be a herald, to
officiate as a herald
1a) to proclaim after the
manner of a herald
1b) always with the
suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and
obeyed
2) to publish, proclaim
openly: something which has been done
3) used of the public
proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the
Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers
1. Kingdom of God - Verse 31
2. Things which concern
Jesus Christ
C. Preached with all
confidence
D. No man stopping him
Points On Leadership In Acts 27-28 |
|
Paul Did Not
Seek The Status Of Being A Leader |
Paul Was
Trying To Be Help |
Paul Did Not
Have The Formal Position Of Leadership |
Paul Was
Leader Because People Followed Him |
Paul’s
Leadership Came In A Time Of Crisis |
No One Else
Had Any Answers |
Paul’s Leadership
Was Not The Result Of Political Maneuverings |
Paul’s Leadership
Came When People Saw His Personal Competence |
Paul’s Leadership Promoted The Gospel |
Who Would
Want To Hear The Gospel From A Non Leader |
Paul’s Leadership Was The Result Of Paul Hearing
From God |
Everyone
Else Wanted To Do What Was Normal |
Paul’s Leadership
Was The Result Of God’s Revelation Using Paul’s Personal Experience |
Others Had
Only Secular Secular Leadership |
Paul’s Leadership
Was The Result Of Praying For The Sick |
“ |
Paul’s Leadership
Was The Result Of Miracles Performed |
“ |
Paul’s Leadership Was The Result Of Preaching The
Kingdom Of God |
“ |
Paul’s Leadership Was The Result Of Teaching Christ
In The Old Testament |
“ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion Of The Book Of Acts
The concluding words of the Book of Acts are about
the fate of the nation Israel. In the first chapters of the Book of Luke, Jesus
was introduced as the promised Savior who came to save His people, Israel, as
well as to be a blessing to the Gentiles. But, as the gospel of Luke reveals,
“His people” did not receive Him, but rejected Him. This was especially true of
the Jewish leaders, and generally true of many other Israelites. There were those,
of course, who did believe in Him.
As the Book of Acts begins, the Lord is described as
departing from this earth, commissioning His apostles to carry on the work which He began. But once again, the Jews
reject the gospel as proclaimed by the apostles, in spite of the evidences of
God’s power at work through them. As Jesus was killed, so were Stephen and many
others. Graciously, Saul was converted, from a persecutor of Christianity, to a
teacher of Christ.
The Book of Acts is a description of the expansion
of the gospel, from Jerusalem to the “uttermost part of the earth,” and from
primarily Jewish listeners to many Gentiles as well. But as the gospel went
forth from Jerusalem, the Jews persistently rejected the good news, and
persecuted those who proclaimed the gospel. Now, at Rome, the majority of the
Jews there reject the word of the Gospel. The Jews have heard, and most have
rejected the truth that Jesus was the Messiah, who came to the earth, took on
human flesh, was rejected, crucified, and raised from the dead. Now, after
nearly 40 years of grace, the time of God’s judgment draws nigh. The Book of
Acts ends, not with the salvation of Israel, and with the establishment of the
kingdom, but with the rejection of Israel, and with the ever nearing time of
Israel’s captivity and suffering. There is, in this sense, a deep sense of
sorrow as the Book of Acts draws to a close.
While Israel’s days are numbered, we also find the
Book of Acts hardly ending at all, but rather it seems to be only a beginning. If
the gospel has been rejected by the
Jews, it is still being proclaimed and believed by the Gentiles. We who are
Gentiles, who live some twenty centuries after the ending of Acts, find that
what Jesus continued to do through the apostles, He is still doing today. If
the Book of Acts ends one chapter in the history of Israel, it begins a whole
new chapter in the history of the church. If the Lord Jesus was at work in and
through the apostles in Acts, He is still at work in and through His church to
this very day.
It does not appear to be long before “the times of the Gentiles” will come to a close, and the Tribulation time for the Lord to bring Israel back to Himself, and the return of the Lord Jesus with His saints for the marriage supper of the Lamb and to establish His kingdom forever. Are we going to be ready for the Bridegroom when He Returns?