Our church has long been done with our series on Acts but I’m still finally finishing up with sharing my thoughts here. Maybe the next time we all do a big book series like this I will share about it in real time and not straggled behind with my sharing. Maybe. In case you missed my first What I’m Learning in the Bible post I am sharing what I have learned as our church studied through the book of Acts together over the past few months. I’ve learned a lot from this series and I was thankful to be able to go through it with a friend from my small group as well as with the church as a whole.
As a reminder, I am using this ESV Acts Study journal. Basically it has scripture on one page and then a blank lined page next to it for taking notes. Now that I’m a couple of months into this I can say that I highly recommend this journal. I really like the format for going thought a book of the Bible and having space to write notes.
Acts 27:1-44
Paul starts the trip to Rome. It’s interesting in verse 10 that Paul warns them about what’s ahead but they just ignore him. The storm comes and it’s so bad that in verse 20 that they had abandoned all hope of being saved. In verses 21-26 he tells them what God has told him and encourages them to take heart but warns that they have to run aground.
I’m surprised that when he tells them not to get out of the ship that they actually listen to him. On day 14 he tells them to eat. He gives thanks to God and then breaks bread and eats. They were encouraged and ate as well. They then get caught in the reef but they all manage to make it to shore safely.
Acts 28:1-16
At this point they are shipwrecked on Malta but the people are unusually kind to them. After Paul doesn’t die from the snake bite they assume that he is a god. Paul then heals Publius’s father. After a while they start making their way to Rome again. When they get to Rome they are met by brothers and I just love that God sent them to encourage Paul.
Acts 28:17-31
In his time in Rome Paul shares with the leaders of the Jews, convincing some of them and not convincing others. He testifies to the kingdom of God and tries to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and from the prophets. They basically all leave after he says that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles and that they will listen.
At the end of the book we read that he lived there for 2 full years teaching about Jesus with all boldness and without hinderance. The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened to Paul at the end of his life. Historical tradition tells us that he was martyred in Rome. I think it’s clear that however he died, he spent his last days continuing to teach everyone about salvation through Jesus.
Have any thoughts to share? I would love to hear them in the comments below!