Lesson for November 25, 2012: Paul Evangelizes in Rome (Acts 28:11-31)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
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By Sam E. Stone
Paul’s long-desired opportunity to preach in Rome was becomming a reality. Last week we learned how he and others from the ship wintered in Malta, awaiting better weather to complete their journey. With spring, navigation was considered safe and they resumed their voyage (Acts 28:11-14).
Luke notes that when they met brethren in Puteoli, Paul remained there for a week. W. R. Walker suggests that this makes it “more than probable” that the centurion transporting Paul had become a Christian, and was now using all the liberty he had to assist in spreading the gospel message! As they walked on the Appian Way toward Rome, two groups of Christian brothers from the city came out to meet the travelers.

Arrival in Rome
Acts 28:16, 17
Once in Rome Paul was allowed to live by himself, with just a soldier to guard him. Ever since his conversion, the apostle had attempted to preach the gospel “first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles” (Romans 1:16). He did the same in Rome. Calling together the local Jewish leaders, Paul explained how he had come to be brought as a captive to their city.

Meeting with Jewish Leaders
Acts 28:23, 24
The Jews came in large numbers to meet him and hear him. Wouldn’t you like to have listened as he witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God? Filled with his knowledge of Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and with a heart abounding in love for his brethren, Paul tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some were convinced . . . but others would not believe. F. F. Bruce notes, “The debate must have been keen and impassioned.”

Responding to Rejection
Acts 28:25-29
The group began to leave when Paul gave this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet. . . .” Paul then used the same quotations from Isaiah 6 that Jesus had used when rebuking the Jewish leaders for not listening to him (Matthew 13:14, 15). The text was also cited by the apostle John in explaining the unbelief of those who heard Jesus in Jerusalem (John 12:40).
J. W. McGarvey points out, “It furnishes the true explanation of the failure of the gospel to win some who hear it fully proclaimed.” This passage clearly points out that every person has a personal responsibility to accept or reject the message of the gospel. God is no respecter of persons. Every individual must exercise his or her free will in deciding how to respond to the invitation of Jesus. The Lord does not force anyone.
The apostle went on to tell the Jewish leaders, “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” Hearing this, the Jews left. Luke adds that they were arguing vigorously among themselves.

Preaching to All
Acts 28:30, 31
The book of Acts concludes with Paul still a prisoner (v. 16), a soldier chained to him day and night (v. 20). Since soldiers normally changed their shift every three hours, the apostle might have five or six different soldiers by his side during a 24-hour day. Talk about a captive audience! We can imagine how each one of them heard his testimony and listened to his preaching and teaching throughout the day.
Since this continued for two whole years, it is not surprising that Paul wrote later to the Philippians, “It has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ” (Philippians 1:13). This in itself had encouraged other believers to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly (v. 14).
The fact that Paul welcomed all who came to see him suggests a steady stream of people, both Christians and non-Christians, who came to meet and talk with him. He was living in “his own rented house.” Some Bible teachers suggest Paul might have continued using his tent-making skills to support himself during this period. With all of the visitors, however, he probably wouldn’t have had time to do too much tent making!

Lesson for November 11, 2012: Paul Survives a Shipwreck (Acts 27)

Acts 27

King James Version (KJV)

27 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

² And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
³ And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
⁴ And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
⁵ And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
⁶ And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
⁷ And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
⁸ And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
⁹ Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
¹⁰ And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
¹¹ Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
¹² And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
¹³ And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
¹⁴ But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
¹⁵ And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
¹⁶ And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
¹⁷ Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
¹⁸ And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
¹⁹ And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
²⁰ And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
²¹ But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
²² And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
²³ For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
²⁴ Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
²⁵ Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
²⁶ Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
²⁷ But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
²⁸ And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
²⁹ Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
³⁰ And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
³¹ Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
³² Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
³³ And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
³⁴ Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
³⁵ And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
³⁶ Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
³⁷ And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
³⁸ And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
³⁹ And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
⁴⁰ And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
⁴¹ And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
⁴² And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
⁴³ But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
⁴⁴ And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.