Acts Chapter 28
God always keeps His promises. We often forget this fact until we read scripture and see example after example where God kept His promises. In this final chapter of Acts, we read that Paul arrived in Rome safely after enduring a terrible shipwreck. He was still a prisoner of the Romans, but he did make it to Rome just as the Lord had promised. Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Let's Reflect
1. After swimming to shore from the wrecked ship they learned where that they had landed on the island of Malta. What did the people of Malta do for the victims of the shipwreck?
2. I don’t know whether Paul was made to help gather firewood or he volunteered to help but he was bitten by a snake that was probably living in that dead firewood. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? What more can happen to this poor man? What did the people think when Paul shook the snake off unharmed?
3. Paul learned that the chief of the island of Malta had a father who was sick. So he visited the man and healed him. What did the island people do when they heard about this miracle?
4. How long did they stay in Malta before setting sail to Rome?
5. The Bible doesn’t tell us if they purchased a ship or if they were passengers on a merchant ship, but the latter is probably the case. The Bible describes several stops along the way but eventually they were in Italy. In the town of Puteoli they found brothers, people who were followers of Jesus. How long did they stay with these brothers?
6. It was evident that the gospel had reached Rome too. As they travelled toward Rome, they were greeted by a group of brothers who had traveled to welcome Paul outside of Rome. What did this discovery of meeting brothers in Christ do for Paul?
7. When they arrived in Rome the prisoners were delivered over to the captain of the guard. What did they do with Paul?
8. Three days after arriving in Rome, Paul asked the Jews living in the area to come to him so he could give testimony of the hand of God in his life. The Jews had not heard about the things that had caused Paul to be in chains. What did they say they were willing to do according to verse 22?
9. On the appointed day that Paul was to testify of Christ to the Jews, they did bring lots of people to hear him speak. What was the result?
10. The book of Acts concludes with Paul continued to present the gospel to whomever would listen despite the fact that he was there under house arrest. Even though most of the Jews would not accept the gospel, Paul had a mission. He brought the truth of the gospel to what people? Exactly as God had promised that he would.
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