369. PAUL GOES TO ROME
€ For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain €
The account of the voyage to Rome from Caesarea is given in detail. It records Paul € s calmness, confidence and patient faith in the face of uncontrollable adverse forces, panic and despair. It is the Paul of the Epistles who is revealed on this voyage, providing an example, in a real life situation, of the attitude he commends in his letters.
The aim of this lesson is to show how Paul € s faith triumphed over € perils in the sea € (2 Cor. 11:26), and how he gave hope to all aboard the ship.
Acts 27, 28
PAUL SAILS FOR ROME (Acts 27:1-26).
From the time Paul came to Philippi at the end of his third preaching campaign, Luke was his constant companion. He remained with Paul during his journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20:6; 21:18), and with Aristarchus accompanied Paul on his way to Rome (27:1-2).
Paul had prayed for the brethren at Rome continuously. Above all, he wanted them established in the faith. When writing to the brethren at Rome, he said he was prepared to go there € by any means € (Rom. 1:10). Now years later it was to transpire, with Paul taken there as a prisoner under the custody of a Roman Centurion named Julius.
Stopping at Sidon a day after setting sail, Paul was permitted to land and be refreshed by brethren. The ship then headed westward. With the wind contrary, this is, from the west, the € ship of Adramyttium € sailed east of Cyprus, where the mountains of that island reduced the force of the blast, and on across to Myra. It was here that the party left this ship and joined a larger vessel, a € corn ship € , one of the imperial fleet which sailed between Alexandria (the main Egyptian port) and Italy. This magnificent ship carrying its cargo of grain, so vital to the people and the Emperor, was never to arrive. But it did carry the Apostle Paul, with the true bread of life, a further step towards Rome.
Still the west wind blew strongly, and the grain ship with 276 aboard put to sea in the face of the wind (v. 7), beating along the coast of Asia as far as Cnidus. They crossed to Crete and coasted along its southern side to a port named Fair Havens and dropped anchor. It was now late September. Winter was approaching rapidly. Paul € s advice was that the ship see out the winter at this port. He prophesied disaster if the ship should sail. The pilot and captain gave contrary opinions, in that Phenice, only about 70 kilometres distant, offered better harbour facilities. When the strong westerlies died down and a gentle southerly breeze sprung up, they weighed anchor. Emerging from the shelter of Fair Havens, they were suddenly hit by a typhoon. Frantically the crew lifted the lifeboat on board, and undergirded the ship with thick cables, as the vessel was buffetted towards the deadly quicksands of northern Africa. Cargo was jettisoned to lighten the leaking ship. Day after day, huge waves and strong currents battered the ship. Ill and not eating, the crew and passengers waited for the vessel to sink.
This was true of all but one man! Paul's calm faithful confidence in God defied the violence of wind and wave. Standing in their midst and believing God, Paul proclaimed that all would be saved (vv. 21-26). Notice how detailed Paul's prophecy was and how in the subsequent events all was fulfilled.
SHIPWRECK AT MELITA (Acts 27:27-44; 28:1-10).
Fourteen nights later the roaring noise of breakers on rocks gave warn ing of approaching land; this was confirmed by "sounding" (v.28). An chors were cast from the stern. Early in the morning the sailors attempted to leave the ship for fear of being cast on to the rocks. They were quickly prevented from doing so by Paul (vv.30-32). But when daylight came, it was obvious that the ship was doomed. Again Paul took the initiative. He urged the passengers and crew to eat to fortify themselves for the rigours ahead (w. 33-34). Taking food, Paul offered thanks to God in the presence of them all, and began to eat. The men took courage and followed his example. Dumping the precious cargo of wheat overboard, they cast off the anchors into the sea, loosed the ropes, hoisted the foresail and made for the beach.
Meeting a crosscurrent channel the ship hit a shoal and began to break up. Julius, out of respect for Paul, prevented the soldiers from killing the prisoners. They all made for the shore, some swimming, some on boards and some on fragments of the ship. All reached the shore safely. Paul's pro phetic words had been vindicated and his trust in God justified before all.
The natives of Melita (or Malta) kindled a huge fire to warm the ship wrecked men. Paul, while helping, had a venomous snake fasten onto his hand. Being superstitious, the Maltese were convinced the prisoner Paul was a murderer about to receive his just deserts. Instead of swelling and falling down dead, Paul shook off the viper into the fire, the power of the Holy Spirit protecting him. The islanders were amazed, changed their minds and decided he must be a god instead!
The Apostle figured in a further display of God's power when he heal ed the father of the local chief, Publius, of a serious "fever of a bloody flux". News of the cure spread and many islanders were healed by Paul.
TO ROME (Acts 28:11-31).
After three months they bade farewell to the islanders who honoured them with their substance. They left on board another Alexandrian corn ship, "whose sign was Castor and Pollux", which had wintered at Malta. They travelled to Syracuse in Sicily, touched at Rhegium, the port on the "toe" of Italy and finally landed at Puteoli (see map). Travel was now by road. At Appii Forum and at The Three Taverns (50-70 km from Rome), certain brethren who had come from Rome met the three brethren, Paul, Luke and Aristarchus (v.15). They were encouraged and thanked God. There is a lesson here: the thoughtful undertaking of these brethren of Rome assisted Paul in his great missions.
At last Rome! Paul was allowed to rent a private house, although he had a Roman soldier in constant attendance. The apostle, as was his custom in any strange city, gave his first attention to the Jews. Calling the Jewish leaders together after three days, he outlined the events which brought him to Rome. Because the Jews had insisted he was an offender, even though after examination the Romans and Felix would have let him go, he had been compelled to appeal to Caesar. Therefore he was a prisoner in Rome. It was for "the hope of Israel" that he was bound with a chain. A day was appointed for Paul to be heard. In an address which lasted from morning until evening Paul expounded and testified the kingdom of God from the Law and the prophets, and persuaded them that Jesus was Messiah (v.23). Some believed but others did not, and Paul declared this latter reaction to be a fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah (vv.26-27; cp. Isa. 6:9-10).
It was the last appeal of Yahweh through his servants to His people. They had rejected the message and the warning. "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it" (v.28). The book of Acts commenced with the gospel being preached to the Jews in Jerusalem, the Jewish capital, but ends with it being rejected by them in Rome, the capital of the Gentile world, and the Apostles turning to the Gentiles. One thing remained for the Jews, the outpouring of divine judgment in the overthrow of Jerusalem as predicted by the prophets.
For two years Paul dwelt in his hired house in Rome while awaiting the hearing of his appeal before Nero. He received all that came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ (v.31; cp. v.23; 8:12). Against this prison background, he wrote the letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians and to Philemon. These letters were full of teaching, of guidance for daily life, and of reproof in the things that would not please Jesus Christ (cp. Phil. 4:4-13). Whatever position we are in, we can show by our actions that the gospel message is active within us (cp. Phil. 1:14). Let us pray with all our hearts, be truthful, honest and of good report that we may have peace with God. Paul, the prisoner of Rome, was able to say with all confidence that he could "do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Jesus Christ will give us strength and courage too, if we trust in him.
LESSONS FOR US:
- Great faith can be seen in God's Son and His faithful servants such as Paul. It is something only God can help us learn.
- As we learn from God's Word our faith becomes stronger and we too are able to show others what trust we have in God.
- We can show by our actions that the Gospel message is active within us. There is much for us to DO and BE if we would copy the example of the Apostle Paul (cp. 1 Cor. 11:1).
- Now is our day of opportunity to "hear", "believe" and "obey" the call of God through His Word.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton) € Chapter 21
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 14, Pages 96-114
"Archaeology and the New Testament" (Merrill F. Unger) € Chapter 17, Pages 304-321
"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Pages 223-227
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
- What happened on the island of Melita after Paul was shipwrecked?
- In Rome, Paul, though he was a prisoner, was not idle. Comment on this.
- The Book of Acts starts with the apostles being sent out to preach the gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. How does the Book end?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Describe Paul's journey to Rome, mentioning where he boarded tne first ship, where he changed vessels and where he was shipwrecked.
- Ho w did God care for Paul and his companions during the storm and shipwreck on the journey to Rome?
- How is Paul's faith and courage illustrated by his example during his perilous voyage to Rome?