These last two chapters of the Acts of the Apostles are amazing verse and a final look at the heart of Paul trying to convince the Jews that the resurrection of Jesus Christ logically followed the Law of Moses and from what the prophets had prophesied.
Paul, the prisoner, took a leadership role on the voyage to Rome while witnessing to the soldiers and crew. An amazingly well told story with lots of details!
Here is the story in the words of the Bible:
Now when it was decided that he should sail for Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be turned over to a centurion named Julius.
Paul: “Men, I see that this voyage is threatening to bring disaster and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our lives also.”
…the next day they threw some of the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s gear overboard. As neither the sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small storm was raging, all hope of our being saved was in consequence given up.
Paul: “Men, you should indeed have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete, this sparing yourselves from this disaster and loss. And now I beg of you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood by me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted thee all who are sailing with thee.’ So, men, be of good cheer; for I have faith in God that it will be as it has been told to me. But we are to reach a certain island.”
But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea… Paul to the centurion and the soldiers: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her drift off.
Paul: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch and fasting, without taking anything to eat. So I beg you to take some food for your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.” With these words he took bread and gave thanks to God before them all and broke it and begun to eat. Then all became more cheerful and took food for themselves. Now, we were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls on board. And after eating their fill, they proceeded to lighten the ship by throwing wheat into the sea.
But we struck a place open to two seas, and they ran the ship aground.
Now the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners lest any of them escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, put a stop to their plan… And so it came to pass that all got safely to land.
Paul is amazingly focused, persistent and powerful on the voyage to Rome, all the while being a prisoner!
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer is driving the bus and still making all the stops while being robbed and fighting off the robber. When asked how he could do that, he replied ‘because they kept ringing the (stop) bells!
Faced with his own personal uncertainty, Paul is in close communication with God and following His every order. Why? Because that is what an apostle does. That was what was in Paul’s heart.
More of the story in the words of the Bible:
After our escape we learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and refreshed us all because of the rain that had set in, and the cold.
The head man of the island, whose name was Publius… And it happened that the father of Publius was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in, and after praying and laying hands on him, he healed him. After this all the sick on the island came and were cured; and they honored us with many marks of honor, and when we sailed, they provided us with such things as we needed.
We set sail after three months in an Alexandrian ship with the Twins on her figurehead, which had wintered at the island.
…and so we came to Rome. And the brethren there, having had news of us, came… and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage. On our arrival at Rome, Paul was given permission to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.
Paul to the leading Jews in Rome: “Brethren, although I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After an examination they were ready to release me, since I was innocent of any crime that deserved death; but as the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. This, then, is why I asked to see you and speak with you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
…Paul explained the matter, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying from morning till evening to convince them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Paul: “Well, did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: With your ear you will hear and will not understand; and seeing you will see and will not perceive. For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest perhaps they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I will heal them.’ Be it known that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen to it.”
And for two full years Paul remained in his own hired lodging; and he welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered. Amen.
Amen indeed! The ongoing dialogue with the Jews is quite amazing as well. Paul utilizing the words of the prophet Isaias summarizing and concluding the conversation with ‘you either get it or you don’t’ or even better ‘it’s the Will of God that you either get or you don’t.’ No hard feelings either way but there is salvation for all of eternity to be received but in only one manner of the exercising of one’s own free will. It’s a dialogue that is still quite applicable today in not only religious discussions but also spiritual ones and pretty much any secular discussion.
This is it for the Acts of the Apostles—THE END—Paul’s journey to Rome has concluded with him making a final pitch of salvation to the Jews.
Day 134: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Paul’s Journey to Rome & His Final Pitch to the Jews.
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 27-28 (END).
Bible Notes:
Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome
Acts Chapter 27: Departure for Rome; From Caesarea to Myra; From Myra to Crete; Seeking a harbor in Crete; A violent storm; Paul encourages them; The sailors desert the ship; Paul assures them of safety; Shipwreck; all are saved.
Now when it was decided that he should sail for Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be turned over to a centurion named Julius.
Paul: “Men, I see that this voyage is threatening to bring disaster and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our lives also.”
…the next day they threw some of the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s gear overboard. As neither the sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small storm was raging, all hope of our being saved was in consequence given up.
Paul: “Men, you should indeed have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete, this sparing yourselves from this disaster and loss. And now I beg of you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood by me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted thee all who are sailing with thee.’ So, men, be of good cheer; for I have faith in God that it will be as it has been told to me. But we are to reach a certain island.”
But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea… Paul to the centurion and the soldiers: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her drift off.
Paul: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch and fasting, without taking anything to eat. So I beg you to take some food for your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.” With these words he took bread and gave thanks to God before them all and broke it and begun to eat. Then all became more cheerful and took food for themselves. Now, we were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls on board. And after eating their fill, they proceeded to lighten the ship by throwing wheat into the sea.
But we struck a place open to two seas, and they ran the ship aground.
Now the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners lest any of them escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, put a stop to their plan… And so it came to pass that all got safely to land.
Acts Chapter 28: Sojourn to Malta; Many cured at Malta; Malta to Rome; Paul speaks to the Jews in Rome; Paul holds a meeting with them; Paul imprisoned for two years in Rome.
After our escape we learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and refreshed us all because of the rain that had set in, and the cold.
Now Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
The natives said to one another: “Surely this man is a murderer, for though he has escaped from the sea, Justice does not let him live.”
Seeing no harm come to him (Paul), they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
The head man of the island, whose name was Publius… And it happened that the father of Publius was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in, and after praying and laying hands on him, he healed him. After this all the sick on the island came and were cured; and they honored us with many marks of honor, and when we sailed, they provided us with such things as we needed.
We set sail after three months in an Alexandrian ship with the Twins on her figurehead, which had wintered at the island.
…and so we came to Rome. And the brethren there, having had news of us, came… and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage. On our arrival at Rome, Paul was given permission to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.
Paul to the leading Jews in Rome: “Brethren, although I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After an examination they were ready to release me, since I was innocent of any crime that deserved death; but as the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. This, then, is why I asked to see you and speak with you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
…Paul explained the matter, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying from morning till evening to convince them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Paul: “Well, did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: With your ear you will hear and will not understand; and seeing you will see and will not perceive. For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest perhaps they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I will heal them.’ Be it known that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen to it.”
And for two full years Paul remained in his own hired lodging; and he welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered. Amen.
The two Books of Paralipomenon also repeat much from previous books. The first Book of Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.
So here we go to be inspired by God’s Word starting in the first chapter of the First Book of Paralipomenon. After all we don’t want to miss a bit of inspiration, omitted or otherwise:
Noe the tenth in succession of Adam built the ark and survived the Great Flood!
And the Agarites were delivered into their hands, and all that were with them, because they called upon God in the battle: and he heard them, because they had put their faith in him.
Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle… among you also, as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. To Greeks and to foreigners, to learned and unlearned, I am a debtor…
Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whoever thou art who judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou dost condemn thyself. For thou who judgest dost the same things thyself.
…and of the revelation of the just judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his works. Life eternal indeed he will give to those who by patience in good works seek glory and honor and immortality… Tribulation and anguish shall be visited upon the soul of every man who works evil… But glory and honor and peace shall be awarded to everyone who does good…
For it is not they who hear the Law that are just in the sight of God; but it is they who follow the Law that will be justified. When the Gentiles who have no law do by nature what the Law prescribes, these having no law are a law unto themselves. They show the work of the Law written in their hearts. Their conscience bears witness to them, even when conflicting thoughts accuse or defend them. This will take place of the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden secrets of men through Jesus Christ.
We better find the hidden secrets in our life before God judges them even if they are secrets to us. Come out of our Sully Egos, Denial, Justification and Rationalization.
It’s not remedial at all!
It seems almost as if many wives and many children to build up the number of valiant men for war was the thing in those days. In stark contrast to limited family sizes to control the population explosion and awareness of limited resource thoughts of this day. Is the Universe really limited in any way? Is God limited in any way?
Their brethren also the Levites, who were appointed for all the ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. But Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings upon the altar of holocausts, and upon the altar of incense, for every work of the holy of holies: and to pray for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the ministry… Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed unto them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and frankincense, and spices. And the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices… were over the loaves of proposition, to prepare always new for every Sabbath.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down wounded… And the Philistines drew near pursuing after Saul, and his sons, and they killed… the sons of Saul. And the battle grew hard against Saul, and the archers reached him, and wounded him with arrows. And Saul said to his armorbearer: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest these uncircumcised come, and mock me. But his armorbearer would not, for he was struck with fear; so Saul took his sword, and fell upon it… So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house fell together… they (men of Israel) forsook their cities, and were scattered up and down: and the Philistines came, and dwelt in them.
As with Jesus’ words in the gospels, Paul’s words to the Romans are pure gold, pure spiritual enlightenment and are presented here without comment, although there are highlights of words that enlightened me, and one underlined section:
But now the justice of God has been made manifest independently of the Law, being attested by the Law and the Prophets; the justice of God through faith in Jesus Christ upon all who believe. For there is no distinction, as all have sinned and have need of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith, to manifest his justice, God in his patience remitting former sins; to manifest his justice at the present time, so that he himself is just, and makes just him who has faith in Jesus.
Where then is thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we reckon that a man is justified by faith independently of the works of the Law. Is God the God of the Jews only, and not of the Gentiles also? Indeed of the Gentiles also. For there is but one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through the same faith. Do we therefore through faith destroy the Law? By no means! Rather we establish the Law.
Therefore as though one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, and thus death has passed unto all men because all have sinned—for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin was not imputed when there was no law; yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin after the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a figure of him who was to come.
But not like the offense is the gift. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more has the grace of God, and the gift in the grace of the one man Jesus Christ abounded unto many. Nor is the gift as it was in the case of one man’s sin, for the judgment was from one man unto condemnation, but grace is from many offenses unto justification. For if by reason of the one man’s offense death reigned through the one man, much more will they who receive the abundance of the grace and of the gift of justice reign in the life through the one Jesus Christ. Therefore as from the offense of one man the result was unto condemnation of all men, so from the justice of the one the result is unto justification of life to all men. For just as by the disobedience of the one man the many were constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted just.
Well there is certainly new material in First Paralipomenon
When they were but a small number; very few and sojourners in it. And they passed from nation to nation: and from kingdom to another people. He suffered no man to do them wrong; and reproved kings for their sake. Touch not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets.
Give ye glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye: Save us O God our savior: and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations: that we may give glory to the holy name, and may rejoice in singing thy praises. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity: and let all the people say, Amen, and (sing) a hymn to God.
…And this is the number of the heroes of David… he lifted up his spear against three hundred wounded by him at one time… Who was one of the three mighties… Bit these men stood in the midst of the field, and defended it: and they slew the Philistines, and the Lord gave a great deliverance to his people… he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he slew… but yet he attained not the first three… and he went down, and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of snow. And he slew an Egyptian, whose statue was of five cubits… but yet to the three he attained not: and David made him of his council.
These helped David against the rovers: for they were all most valiant men, and were made commanders in the army. Moreover day by day there came some to David to help him till they became a great number, like the army of God.
Another time also the Philistines made an irruption, and spread themselves broad in the valley. And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them; turn away from them and come upon them over against the pear trees… For God has gone out before thee to strike the army of the Philistines. And David did as God had commanded him, and defeated the army of the Philistines… And the name of David became famous in all countries, and the Lord made all nations fear him.
What then shall we say? Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? By no means! For how shall we who are dead to sin still live in it?
I speak in a human way because of the weaknesses of your flesh; for as you yielded your members as slaves of uncleanliness and iniquity unto iniquity, so now yield your members as slaves of justice unto sanctification.
For the married woman is bound by the Law while her husband is alive; but if her husband die, she is set free from the law of the husband. Therefore, while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress if she be with another man; but if her husband dies, she is set free from the law of the husband, so that she is not an adulteress if she has been with another man.
But sin, having thus found an occasion, worked in me by means of the commandment all manner of lust, for without the Law sin was dead.
Now therefore it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, no good dwells, because to wish is within my power, but I do not find the strength to accomplish what is good.
For the law of the Spirit of the life In Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death.
But if Christ is in you, the body, it is true, is dead by reason of sin, but the spirit is life by reason of justification.
For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us. For the eager longing of creation awaits the revelation of God. For creation was made subject to vanity—not by its own will but by reason of him who made it subject—in hope, because creation itself also will be delivered from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God. For we know that all creation groans and travails in pain until now.
But in like manner the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself pleads for us with unutterable groanings, And he who searched the hearts knows what the Spirit desires, that he pleads for the same according to God.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? Even as it is written, “For thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.” But in all these things we overcome because of him who has loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, not things present, nor things to come, not powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
First Paralipomenon continues with material omitted from the four Kings books of the bible:
The princes of the children of Ammon: and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it?
Whereas Second Kings continues with David committing adultery with Bethsabee, First Paralipomenon omits this part for now. So Paralipomenon means those sacred words omitted in the four Kings sections of the bible as well as presenting some duplicate text yet itself omitting some key passages as well?
And God was displeased with this thing that was commanded: and he struck Israel. And David said to God: I have sinned exceedingly in doing this: I beseech thee to take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done foolishly.
And the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David, to go up, and build an altar to the Lord God in the thrashingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sadness and continuous sorrow in my heart. For I could wish to be anathema myself from Christ for the sake of my brethren, who are my kinsman according to the flesh; who are Israelites, who have adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the legislation and the worship and the promises; who have the fathers, and from who is the Christ according to the flesh, who is, over all things, God blessed forever, amen.
It is not that the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israelites who are sprung from Israel; nor because they are the descendants of Abraham, are they all his children; but “Through Isaac shall thy posterity bear thy name.” That is to say, they are not sons of God who are the children of the flesh, but it is the children of promise who are reckoned as posterity. For this is a word of promise: “About this time I will come and Sara shall have a son.” And not she only; but also Rebecca, who conceived by one man, Isaac our father; for before the children had yet been born, or had done aught of good or evil, in order that the selective process of God might stand, depending not on deeds, but on his who calls, it was said to her, “The elder shall serve the younger;” as it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
What then shall we say? Is there injustice in God? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will show pity to whom I will show pity.” So then there is question not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God showing mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharoah, “For this very purpose I have raised thee up that I may show in thee my power, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore he has mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardens.
Thou sayest to me: Why then does he still find fault? For who resists his will? O man, art thou to reply to God? Does the object moulded say to him who moulded it: Why hast thou made me thus? Or is it not the potter master of is clay, to make from the same mass one vessel for honorable, another for ignoble use? But what if God, wishing to show his wrath and to make known his power, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, ready for destruction, that he might show the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory—even us whom he has called not only from among the Jews buy also from among the Gentiles?
What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who were not pursuing justice have secured justice, but a justice that is from faith; but Israel, by pursuing a law of justice, has not attained to the law of justice. And why? Because they sought it not from faith, but as it were from works. For they stumbled at the stumbling-stone, as it is written, “Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of scandal: and whoever believes in him shall not be disappointed.” 
For Moses wrote that the man who does that justice which is of the Law, shall live by it. But the justice that is of faith says, “Do not say in thy heart: Who shall ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring down Christ); “or, Who shall descend into the abyss?” (that is to bring up Christ from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart” (that is, the word of faith, which we preach). For if thy confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with a heart a man believes unto justice, and with the mouth profession of faith is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him shall not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for there is the same Lord of all, rich towards all who call upon him. “For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
How then are they to call upon him in whom they have not believed? But how are they to believe him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear, if no one preaches? And how are men to preach unless they be sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace; of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaias says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Faith then depends on hearing, and hearing on the word of Christ. But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, indeed, “Their voice has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” But I say: Has not Israel known? First of all, Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy of those who are not a nation; I will stir you to anger against a senseless nation.” Then Isaias dares to say, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I appeared openly to those who made no inquiry of me.” But to Israel he says, “All the day long I stretched out my hand to a people unbelieving and contradicting.”
What then? What Israel was seeking after, that it has not obtained; but the chosen have obtained it, and the rest have been blinded, as it is written, “God has given them a spirit of stupor until this present day, eyes that they may not see, and ears that they may not hear.” And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap and a stumbling-block and a recompense unto them: let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and let them bow their backs always.”
Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make known his doings among the nations. Sing to him, yes, sing praises to him: and relate all this wondrous works. Praise ye his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice, that seek the Lord. Seek ye the Lord, and his power: seek ye his face evermore. 
Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and victory: and to thee is praise: for all that is in heaven, and in earth, is thine: thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art above all princes. Thine are riches, and thing is glory, thou hast dominion over all, in thy hand is power and might; in thy hand greatness, and the empire of all things. Now therefore, our God, we give thanks to thee, and we praise thy glorious name. Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to promise thee all these things? All things are thine: and we have given thee what we received of thy hand. For we are all sojourners before thee, and strangers, as were all our fathers. Our days upon earth are as a shadow, and there is no stay.
In the notes below are details of the organization of King David with respect to roles and responsibilities of his leadership team. Additionally, are the detailed plans being turned over to his son Solomon with a stern warning to stay focused on pleasing the Lord Our God and making sure the Temple, the House of the Lord is built properly.
