Thursday, March 7, 2019

Paul's Last Journey (PT-3 Paul Sails To Rome)


Acts 28:11-12 
"And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, 
which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor 
and Pollux. And landing at Syracuse, 
we tarried there three days." 

   In the early Part of the Spring, they board a new boat and sail for Rome. Paul is met by some Roman Believers both at Puteoli (forty three miles from Rome. And (35 miles from Rome at the Three Taverns he was met by believers again. Note the phrase in (v-28:15), "to meet us." is the same word found concerning the Rapture of all Believers in 1 Thessalonians. 4:17, where we read, "to meet the Lord in the air." It is a term regularly used of the official welcome given by a delegation who went out to meet a visiting official and accompany him into the city.
   When Paul arrives in Rome he is granted great freedom, by being guarded by only one soldier. Soon after his arrival he assembles the local Jewish leaders to explain who he is and why he is in Rome appealing to Caesar. The Jews are curious to hear his strange message about Christ. After his sermon, some accept the Savior, but of course, many do not. 
   This would be the last of seven recorded defenses of his ministry by the apostle. Here are the other six. Before the Jerusalem mob (Acts 22:1-23, before the chief captain (Acts 22:24-30), before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:1-10), before Felix (Acts 24:10-23), before Festus (Acts 25:8-12, and before Agrippa (Acts 26:1-32.
   To the unbelieving Paul quotes the words of Isaiah, "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 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," Is. 6:9-10). 
    Luke ends his remarkable account with the following words: "And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him, (Acts 28:30-31). 
   My Friends, Paul did not stop here. It was during this time that Paul wrote , Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. However it is believed by many that Paul was released after the two years and traveled around once more preaching Christ before his final arrest and martyrdom in Rome. It was probably during this time that Paul wrote 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. 
   Paul was one of the most Godly person in the Bible except for Jesus Christ. Paul was a believer that never gave up no matter the situation he was in, or the pain he had to ignore. I pray that we all stand firm for our beliefs and serve our Lord with every ounce of strength we have. 
Amen!

Reading: Acts 28:11-31
Ref: HG SB, WGTTB
May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry 



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