It was only upon reaching the shore that the survivors learned they were in Malta, a small island in the center of the Mediterranean, just south of Sicily. In the two weeks they had been adrift in the sea, yielded to the force of the wind, they had covered about four hundred seventy-five miles since … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Acts ends with Paul’s journey to Rome. Paul perseveres through chains, shipwreck, and rejection by Jewish leaders. The only way the message is stopped is in the lives of those who reject it. Lesson 13, September 29, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Acts 27:20-24. Ask class members to share a thought on what … Continue reading –>
Journey to Rome. Paul, overflowing with God’s love to his Christian friends in Rome now faces the consequences of being arrested in Jerusalem and living under Roman custody. Not what he wanted, was it? Then he hears these words in vision, “Do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar.” Caesar? “I’m going to Rome after … Continue reading –>
In his second intervention in the story, Paul assured all who were on board—276 people altogether (Acts 27:37)—that, though not everything would come out fine, there would be no casualties; only the ship would go down (Acts 27:22). Fourteen days later, the apostle’s words were fulfilled. Still under a terrible storm and with the ship completely adrift, … Continue reading –>
After about two years of confinement in Caesarea (Acts 24:27), Paul was to be sent to Rome. Judging by the first person plural and the richness of details used to describe the long and turbulent sea journey to Italy (Acts 27:1-28:16), Luke was accompanying Paul, as was another Christian named Aristarchus (Acts 27:2). Another important character in the … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 27, Acts 28, Rom. 1:18-20. Memory Text: “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24, ESV). Paul had long wished to visit Rome, but his arrest in Jerusalem changed everything. By giving in to the legalistic pressure of the Jerusalem church leaders, he ended up in Roman custody for … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “Did the mind of Agrippa at these words revert to the past history of his family, and their fruitless efforts against Him whom Paul was preaching? Did he think of his great-grandfather Herod, and the massacre of the innocent children of Bethlehem? of his great-uncle Antipas, and the murder of John the Baptist? of … Continue reading –>
Triumphing Through Tough Times The odds were stacked against him. An entire religious system, with all the power it possessed, had arrayed itself against Paul. The aim was to silence the words of Paul by his death, thus silencing his message. The rationale? He was teaching contrary to traditions, which was considered a crime worthy … Continue reading –>
Although Paul was speaking to Agrippa, Festus was the first to react, as seen in Acts 26:24. Festus would have had no problem if Paul had spoken about the immortality of the soul, but even the ancient Greco-Romans knew that both concepts—immortality and resurrection—do not go along well with one other. Thus, they kept the former … Continue reading –>
Before Felix. Imagine you are Paul, called to face an attorney hired by people who don’t like anything you’ve been doing. In short, they hate you. The attorney, Tertullus, is also a Roman governor and is the first to take your case to make you appear to be in obvious violation of customs in Caesarea. Imagine … Continue reading –>
All the way through our quarter’s studies, Paul would sing out “Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus” – Hymn 618 as well as Hymn 610, “Stand Like the Brave” and Hymn 590, “Trust and Obey”. He still maintains these ideals this week. For the two years that Paul was held in Prison, he certainly would have sung … Continue reading –>
With the scene set and the royal guests seated alongside the governor, the prisoner was brought in to present his defense, which was aimed primarily at Agrippa, as Festus had already heard it before (Acts 25:8-11). Read Acts 26:1-23. What was Paul doing in his speech before Agrippa? Paul’s speech was in fact an autobiographical report of … Continue reading –>
