Beloved, I am glad to share today the above theme from Acts 28:1, 14. Indeed, God has put feelings of humanity in the hearts of the pagans of the island of Malta (as previously in that of the centurion Julius(Acts28:2; Acts 27:1-6). They welcome and comfort the shipwrecked. In the midst of these the Lord likes to have His servant recognized by means of a miracle. The apostle who did not judge below his dignity to collect wood to feed the fire, a viper is tied to his hand and he suffers no harm from it, shook the animal in the fire. This was one of the signs that were to “accompany” the disciples. For those who expected to see theapostle die, ended up changing their minds by saying that Paul was a god. Another was the laying on of hands on the sick to heal them (Mark 16:14-18). Because the benevolence of the “natives” of Malta quickly finds its reward.
Indeed, all the sick of the island, starting with the father of Publius, are healed by the power of God. And we like to think that many of these people have found soul healing. Thus the opposition of the Enemy will have served only to throw the seed of the Gospel on a new land. Thus, Paul’s journey comes to an end. Before bringing anything to his brothers in Rome, it is he himself who takes courage in their fraternal communion. For the youngest believer can also be a subject of joy and encouragement for a servant of God.
Then, as soon as he arrived in Rome, Paul summoned the leaders of the Jews. He explains to them the conditions of his imprisonment. And, far from holding a grudge against those of his people for all the evil they have suffered, he still gives them the first place in the preaching of the gospel. For tirelessly, from morning to night, he exposes the truthto them: “As they withdrew in disagreement, Paul added only these words: It is with good reason that the Holy Spirit, speaking to your fathers through the prophet Isaiah, said: Go to this people, and say: You will hear with your ears, and you will not understand; You will look with your eyes, and you will not see.” (Acts 25-26).
This new existence of Christ and of the Church does not prevent that, when the Church is complete and ascended to the top, God does not resume his ways in government with the Jews on earth: and this is what he will do according to his promises and the declaration of the prophets. Revelation will show us the ways of God in judgment towards the Gentiles at the same time, as will other passages of the epistles that relate to the coming of Jesus; it will even show us the ways of God in his government of the world in general, from beginning to end, with the necessary warnings for the Church, when times of unbelief begin to dawn and develop morally in the ruin of the Church, envisaged as a witness of God in the world.
Then in Rome the apostle declares (following the manifestation of unbelief among the Jews, mentioned above), that God’s salvation is sent to the Gentiles; and he remained two whole years in the house he had rented, receiving all those who came to him (for he was not free to go to them), boldly announcing the kingdom of God and that which concerned the Lord Jesus, no one obstructing it (Acts 28:30, 31). Here ends the story of this precious servant of God, loved and honored by his Master, prisoner in this Rome which, head of the Fourth Empire, was to be the seat of opposition to the truth among the Gentiles, of their opposition to the reign and glory of Christ, like Jerusalem of this opposition among the Jews. For the time for the full revelation of this opposition had not yet arrived, but the minister of the Church and of the Gospel of glory is a prisoner in Rome: this is how Rome begins its history in relation to the Gospel that the Apostle preached; however, God was with His servant.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Human Compassion, Examples
-Pharaoh’s daughter: Ex 2:6 She opened it, and saw the child: it was a little boy who was crying. She took pity on him, and she said: This is a child of the Hebrews!
-some leaders of Israel: 2 Ch 28:15 And the men whose names have just been mentioned rose up and took the captives; they used the spoils to clothe all those who were naked, they gave them clothes and shoes, they made them eat and drink, they anointed them, they led on donkeys all those who were tired, and they led them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria. Jb 29:13 The blessing of the unfortunate came upon me; I filled the widow’s heart with joy.
-the Good Samaritan: Lk 10:33-34 But a Samaritan, who was traveling, having come there, was moved with compassion when he saw him. 34 He approached, and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine into them; then he put it on his own mount, took him to an inn, and took care of him.
-the jailer of Philippi: Acts 16:33 He took them with him, at this very hour of the night, he washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his own.
-the inhabitants of the island: Acts 28:2:7 The barbarians showed us an unusual benevolence; they all took us together from a great fire, which they had lit because the rain was falling and it was very cold.
- Vipers:
Jb 20:16 He sucked aspic venom, The tongue of the viper will kill him. Isa 30:6 Sentence of the beasts of the south: Through a land of distress and anguish, From where do the lioness and the lion come, The viper and the flying dragon, They carry on the back of donkeys their riches, And on the hump of camels their treasures, To a people who will not be useful to them. Is 59:5 He incubate basil eggs, and they weave cobwebs. He who eats from their eggs dies; And, if one breaks one, a viper comes out.
- Lack of love
Isa 29:20 For the violent will no longer be, the mocker will have finished, And all those who watched for iniquity will be exterminated; Acts 28:4 When the barbarians saw the animal hanging from his hand, they said to each other: Surely this man is a murderer, since Justice did not want to let him live, after he was saved from the sea. 1 Tim 6:4 he is swollen with pride, he knows nothing, and he has the sickness of idle questions and disputes of words, from which envy, quarrels, slander, bad suspicions are born,
- Divine protection promised to believers
2 Ch 16:9 For the Lord extends His gaze to the whole earth, to sustain those whose hearts are entirely his. You have acted foolishly in this matter, because from now on you will have wars. Ps 34:8 The angel of jehovah stands around those who fear him, and he tears them from danger. Ps 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and you will find refuge under his wings; His fidelity is a shield and a breastplate. Ps 150.2 Praise him for his great deeds! Praise him according to the immensity of his greatness! Za 2:9 Behold, I raise my hand against them, and they will fall prey to those who were enslaved to them. And you will know that the Lord of hosts sent me. Lk 21:18 But not a hair of your head will be lost;
From all the above, we note that Paul stayed two years inRome, receiving those who came to him in the house he rented. And he willfind that thecircumstances through which he passes “have rather come for the advancement of the gospel” (Phil 1:12-14). Was it not during this captivity that he wrote several epistles, including those to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians? We would not have them if he had been free to visit these assemblies. It is also the epistles that allow us to continue somewhat the story of the great apostle. For here the account is interrupted and the book of Acts has no conclusion, as if to show us that the work of the Holy Spirit here on earth is not yet finished. For it continues, as long as the Church is on earth, and in the life of every believer. Our prayers sustain you in your efforts to follow the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow about “Paul’s desire to go to Rome, the guilt of the nations.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.