Chapter 28 Discussion

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Chapter 28 Discussion

• Chapter 28 Verses 1 - 16
• The islanders were not barbarians but rather
  decendents of the Phoenicians
• Prov 167 is good verse for how Paul was able to
  cope.
• Though Paul had to face difficult circumstances
  yet on this journey to Rome God gave him favor in
  the eyes of men.  "When a man's ways are pleasing
  to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at
  peace with him." 
• The Snake Bite shows bad things can happen to
  good people. What other book of the boble shows
  that?
• The world often interprets circumstances
  incorrectly. The book of Job for example revealed
  that bad things indeed happen to righteous
  people, but that the world mistakenly presumes
  fortunate people are good people and unfortunate
  people are bad people. The world misses the big
  picture.
• Acts 288 Does physical touching a requirement
  in the healing process?
• Jesus and His apostles touched the sick when they
  healed, yet miracles often occurred without this
  physical act. The miraculous power to heal
  derives from God's authority, not from the
  physical touch of the hands.

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Chapter 28 Discussion
Rhegium Present day Reggio di Calabria
Puteoli - On the north side of the Bay of
Naples Forum of Appius Small town 43 miles
from Rome known for its wickedness Three Taverns
A town 33 miles from Rome. Tavern refers to a
shop.
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Chapter 28 Discussion

• Chapter 28 Verses 1 - 16
• At first the Maltese viewed Paul simply as a
  criminal upon whom God was bringing judgment
  through the shipwreck and snake bite. First they
  interpret Paul to be a bad person because of his
  misfortune in getting bitten by the snake. But
  then they consider him a god after he suffered no
  bad effects. Why was Paul not affected by the
  snake?
• Immunity to snake bites may have been a
  characteristic imputed to the apostles as it is
  written, "they will pick up snakes with their
  hands and when they drink deadly poison, it will
  not hurt them at all they will place their hands
  on sick people, and they will get well." Mark
  1618 And indeed we see Paul go on to
  miraculously heal the sick there.
• Other snake passages
• Num 218 - For at one time when the people of
  Israel sinned against God in the desert God sent
  venomous snakes among them. But after the people
  repented God had Moses erect a bronze snake. "So
  Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a
  pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and
  looked at the bronze snake, he lived." Num 218
• Jesus also alludes in John 314 when speaking to
  Nicodemus of salvation.

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Chapter 28 Discussion

• Chapter 28 Verses 1 - 16
• Look at the Healings in vs 7-10. WERE THESE
  PEOPLE HEALED BECAUSE OF THE FAITH?
• Though these people were receptive to Paul, yet
  it appears that their being healed was not
  dependent upon their faith in Christ. For Luke
  doesn't mention of conversions. Publius' father
  was healed and that was the basis for others
  coming to be healed.
• Paul was not alone in his ministry to Rome. Along
  with his traveling companions there were other
  Christians there waiting to meet him and indeed
  going way out of their way to greet him. And this
  also his Roman captors witnessed and was an
  affirmation of his good reputation which all led
  to his being treated relatively well during his
  imprisonment in Rome. Though being captive yet he
  did not view his captors as enemies, but as
  legitimate authority figures appointed by God.
  This was a very important point if the gospel was
  to penetrate the hierarchical and militant Roman
  mindset. 

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Chapter 28 Discussion

• Chapter 28 Verses 17 - 31
• vs 17-22 Who did Paul preach to first?
• As was Paul's habit given the opportunity upon
  entering a city he tends to preach first to the
  Jews then to the Gentiles. It was not his job to
  call upon his alleged accusers, it was the
  court's job. But Paul wanted to settle this out
  of court so as to use the opportunity to witness
  to his Jewish brethren.
• Why did Pauls accusers not follow him to Rome?
• It is not too surprising that Paul's accusers
  hadn't followed him to Rome. After all Rome was
  Gentile territory and far away from Israel.
  Furthermore Paul had been imprisoned years after
  the incident on the temple grounds so the zeal
  against him may have died down by now.
• Romans occupied Israel had greater troubles as
  political tensions grew. As such even if they had
  come to Rome I think they would have realized
  based upon their lack of evidence and their
  political disfavor especially in Rome that they
  would most certainly lose the case.

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Chapter 28 Discussion

• Chapter 28 Verses 17 - 31
• vs 30-31 the trial did not occure. Why?
• As his accusers never showed up neither could a
  trial be held. But it appears Paul had a great
  deal of freedom being only under house arrest. He
  even rented his own house and was not forbidden
  to go on preaching a teaching. The word
  "confidence" here is "parrhesia" which means
  "freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech,
  frankness".  

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Chapter 28 and beyond Discussion

• Acts 29 63-64 AD4th Missionary Journey
• Crete, Miletus, Colossae, Troas, Philippi,
  Corinth, Nicopolis.
• 1 Timothy, Titus Philemon written from Corinth
• If Paul went to Spain, he went (after wintering
  in Nicopolis) for one year then took a second
  trip through Miletus, Troas and Corinth then
  arrested and taken off to Rome. However, there is
  no "after the fact" proof that Paul ever went to
  Spain.
• "Acts 30 65-66 AD 5th Missionary Journey
• If Paul didnt go to Spain, he left Nicopolis in
  the spring and made a second pass through
  Miletus, Troas and Corinth then arrested and
  taken off to Rome.
• He must have taken a second pass through Miletus
  because he wrote 1 Timothy after his first pass
  through, but it was in 2 Timothy that Paul told
  Timothy about Trophemus.
• A single pass would require Paul to leave
  Trophemus sick at Miletus,
• write 1 Timothy, get arrested, then from Rome
  tell Timothy about Trophemus in 2 Timothy 420.
• "Acts 31 66 AD 2nd imprisonment
• Paul arrested sometime after being in Corinth and
  taken to Rome and writes 2 Timothy.
• "Acts 32 67 AD Paul martyred soon after