Notes and References


ACTS 27 n 28

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Acts of the Apostles

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Acts Chapter 27 n 28

Acts 27 n 28
PAUL TAKEN TO ROME

Acts 27
1And 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.
2And 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.

Here we find out, by the first person language, Luke is with Paul. Aristarchus is also with them, who was with Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:29) and accompanied Paul into Asia (Acts 20:4). It can be assumed only these two men accompanied Paul on this journey to Rome. Aristarchus is also mentioned in the letters of Paul to the Colossians 4:10 as a fellow prisoner and as  a fellow laborer in Philemon 1:24. By reading these letters we also find Mark (the nephew of Barnabas), Demas, and Epaphras with Paul in Rome. Epaphras is a fellow prisoner. This is also proof the dispute between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39) regarding Mark has been resolved, although Barnabas at this point has been martyred.

I will be emphasizing time words and we will try to determine an approximation the length of time of this journey.

THE STORM AT SEA

Acts 27
3And the next day (1 day) we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
4And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
7And when we had sailed slowly many days (10 days), and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9Now when much time was spent (7 days - guessing), and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10And 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.
11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12And 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.
13And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
14But not long after (2 days) there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17Which 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.
18And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19And the third day (3 days) we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20And when neither sun nor stars in many days (14 days from vs27 minus 3 days vs 19 = 11 days) appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
21But 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.
22And 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.
23For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
27But when the fourteenth night (14 days total of storm) was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
28And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30And 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,
31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
33And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day (the night before and the present day are the same day in Jewish time, evening and morning) that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34Wherefore 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.
35And 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.
36Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
37And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen (276) souls. (that was a big boat)
38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39And when it was day (1 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.
40And 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.
41And 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.
42And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43But 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:
44And 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.

PAUL BITTEN BY A SERPENT - SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE WORKED ON THIS ISLAND

Acts 28
1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days (3 days) courteously.

PUBLIUS: for us, we would recognize the name as the pen name of Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in 1787-1788 when they published 85 articles titled "The Federalist", defending the idea federalism for our newly founded country and in the forming of the new U.S. Constitution.

Acts 28
8And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

Paul was truly an Apostle of Jesus Christ, with the evidence of signs and miracles.

2 Corinthians 12
12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Jesus said these signs would follow after his apostles (He was speaking to the eleven after his resurrection):

Mark 16:17-18
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They 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.

Mark 16:20
20And they (the apostles) went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

I want to be very clear, those who preach we, meaning every Christian, can do all these things which the apostles did are mistaken. First of all these 11 apostles could do miracles before Pentecost, when Jesus sent them out in Matthew 10. He breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 after His resurrection and before His ascension into heaven before Pentecost .

Acts only mentions two non-apostolic believers as doing miracles, which were Stephen and Philip, of the seven that the apostles laid hands upon for the administration of the business of the assembly of Jewish believers. Only the apostles are mentioned as doing miracles, signs, and wonders before and after Pentecost. Pentecost did not give the apostles their power - Jesus did.

Acts 5:12-16
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

If all the believers could do what the apostles did, it would absolutely negate their testimony of being true eye witnesses of Jesus Christ, His life and miracles, His death, His burial, His resurrection, and His ascension into heaven, which were the qualifications of the office of apostle. They did miracles everywhere. Every person was healed. Then later you start to see sickness come in the ranks of the believers as the journey comes to a close for Paul and the other apostles. Jerusalem and Israel are about to be judged, the witnesses job is coming to completion regarding Israel and the kingdom.

Acts 1:21-22 Qualifications of an Apostle

Wherefore of these men which have:

Now with all that said, does God still heal? Absolutely! Does He answer prayer? Absolutely! I just cannot stand to listen to preachers preach faith or lack thereof formulas that their own ministries cannot produce the proof or fruit of their words. They preach doctrine they themselves cannot produce while untold numbers of people are deceived and disillusioned with the gospel, because God seemingly does not care about them because of false teaching. I actually heard on the latest Sept 2015 Benny Hinn show (why I watch I have no idea) that giving, even if you don't have the money to use your credit card, you will get the blessing the guest speaker was offering. What? What a scam artist!

Let us get real and carefully read the truth in these pages of scripture. We no longer have apostles of whom the passing of their shadows or napkins from their bodies heal the sick. Entire cities are no longer healed of all diseases and infirmities. Hospitals would be empty. If that were true, the media, paparazzi, and crowds would be all over them like Elvis in his glory days or the Beatles when they first arrived here on this continent. I am not skeptical of God by any means, but highly suspect of those claiming to be something or someone.

WINTERED 3 MONTHS ON THE ISLE

Acts 28
11And after three months (90 days) we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days (3 days).
13And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day (1 day) the south wind blew, and we came the next day (1 day) to Puteoli:
14Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days (7 days): and so we went toward Rome.
15And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appiiforum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

This journey to Rome, after adding up all the days and guessing on some, was approximately 130- 140 days or 4.5 months.

PAUL AT ROME

Acts 28
17And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Notice Paul went immediately to the Jews first.

Acts 28
18Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27For 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.
28Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

At this point we are at approximately 64 AD. Scholars are mixed as to the final 3 years of Paul's life, as most agree he was martyred in 67 AD. Some think perhaps he was freed for a time then rearrested because of the language in his final letters to Timothy and his letter to Titus. In his letter to Titus he expresses he would winter in Nicopolis. But if the date of the letter is much earlier, then Paul never left his imprisonment in Rome. In his second letter to Timothy, Titus had left Paul in Rome for Dalmatia. I cannot judge anyone for fleeing persecution of the most horrendous kind, just as the Christians of Syria are currently fleeing ISIS. I honestly could say I would be outta there lickity split!

I heard a preacher say just recently there is no such thing as the Law of Moses, but that it is the all the law of God. Well, scripturally, I would have to disagree. We just read in vs 23 that Paul persuaded the Jews out of the Law of Moses. Paul clearly stated that the Law of Moses does not apply to the Gentiles in his letters and we have touched on it in our Acts 15 and Acts 21 studies that there were clearly two standards of adherence of laws in which to live by, one to the Jew and one to the Gentile. When the temple was destroyed, so was the Law of Moses, in the fact that it could not possibly be fully observed by any Jew since 70 AD. How could God possibly righteously judge the Jew by the Law of Moses since then?

The gospel of Jesus Christ points us to salvation by faith alone, for our reunification with our creator, as adopted children, giving hope to the hopeless, giving the believer the gifts of sanctification and justification. "By his stripes we are healed" is not talking about sickness or disease, but that we all should have been beaten to death for our sins. He took the death sentence for us and healed our relationship with God the Father. It is the regeneration of our inner man, turning the sinner into the sinless, to present us before the Father blameless and without spot or wrinkle. That is our complete healing, that is the great miracle, so that we might have everlasting life.