{"id":2239,"date":"2020-05-25T09:02:22","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T17:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2239"},"modified":"2020-05-25T09:02:22","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T17:02:22","slug":"devotion-acts-281-15-he-did-not-doubt-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2239","title":{"rendered":"Devotion Acts 28:1-15 He Did Not Doubt Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 28:1-16<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Once safely on shore, we\u00a0found out that the island\u00a0was called Malta.\u00a0 2. The islanders showed us unusual kindness.\u00a0They built a fire and\u00a0welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.\u00a03\u00a0Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire,\u00a0a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.\u00a04\u00a0When the islanders\u00a0saw the snake hanging from his hand,\u00a0they said to each other, \u201cThis man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.\u201d\u00a05\u00a0But\u00a0Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.\u00a06\u00a0The\u00a0people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.\u00a0 7\u00a0There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us\u00a0generous hospitality for three days.\u00a08\u00a0His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and,\u00a0after prayer,\u00a0placed his hands on him\u00a0and healed him.\u00a09\u00a0When this had happened,\u00a0the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.\u00a010\u00a0They\u00a0honored us\u00a0in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. 11\u00a0After three months\u00a0we put out to sea in a\u00a0ship that had wintered in the island\u2014it\u00a0was an Alexandrian ship\u00a0with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.\u00a012\u00a0We put in at\u00a0Syracuse and stayed there three days.\u00a013\u00a0From there we set sail and\u00a0arrived at Rhegium.\u00a0The next day the south wind came up, and\u00a0on the following day we reached Puteoli.\u00a014\u00a0There we found some\u00a0brothers and sisters\u00a0who invited us to spend a week with them.\u00a0And so we came to Rome.\u00a015\u00a0The brothers and sisters\u00a0there had heard that we were coming, and they\u00a0traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us.\u00a0At the sight of these people\u00a0Paul thanked God and was encouraged.\u00a016\u00a0When we got to\u00a0Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter three months\u00a0we put out to sea in a\u00a0ship that had wintered in the island\u2014it\u00a0was an Alexandrian ship\u00a0with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.\u00a012\u00a0We put in at\u00a0Syracuse and stayed there three days.\u00a013\u00a0From there we set sail and\u00a0arrived at Rhegium.\u00a0The next day the south wind came up, and\u00a0on the following day we reached Puteoli.\u00a014\u00a0There we found some\u00a0brothers and sisters\u00a0who invited us to spend a week with them.\u00a0And so we came to Rome.\u00a015\u00a0The brothers and sisters\u00a0there had heard that we were coming, and they\u00a0traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us.\u00a0At the sight of these people\u00a0Paul thanked God and was encouraged.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0After the rough seas of the winter had settled down Paul and his shipmates were ready to get on to their destination.\u00a0\u00a0They found another ship from Alexandria to transport them.\u00a0\u00a0The figurehead on this ship was images of Castor and Pollux who worshiped as the patron gods of sailors.\u00a0\u00a0Per Greek Mythology they were the twin sons of Zeus.\u00a0\u00a0The irony is that the shipmates of Paul may very well have vainly prayed to these two to save them in the high seas, but it was the one true God, the God of Paul, who saved them.\u00a0\u00a0Things went exactly as the God of Paul had told them.\u00a0\u00a0Whether the irony of sailing on this ship with the two false gods on it was thought of by the sailors, we don\u2019t know.\u00a0\u00a0We also don\u2019t know if Paul brought it up.\u00a0\u00a0But it would be a little surprising, knowing Paul, if he had not at least made a passing remark about these gods showing up only in smooth waters while God Almighty was with them through smooth waters and rescued them through the roughest seas.\u00a0\u00a0It was He who had kept them safe.<\/p>\n

They next made the short trip to Syracuse, which was the chief city in Sicily, and they stayed there for three days before travelling to Rhegium. (See attached map)\u00a0\u00a0From there a good wind came up and they made good progress in sailing on to Puteoli.\u00a0\u00a0Puteoli, at the time was the principal port for Roman wheat trade.\u00a0\u00a0It was odorous because of its sulfurous springs, yet still was a popular resort for wealthy Romans.\u00a0\u00a0Here some brothers and sisters greeted Paul and invited him to join their hospitality for a week.\u00a0\u00a0The centurion, likely grateful for enjoying the grace that all had received from God through Paul, graciously allowed Paul to visit with the brothers and sisters.\u00a0\u00a0Obviously the centurion wasn\u2019t worried about Paul attempting an escape.\u00a0\u00a0I like this centurion and wonder if we will meet him in heaven.\u00a0\u00a0It would be great to hear the testimony of this Roman centurion.\u00a0\u00a0I hope to meet him there.<\/div>\n
\"Malta-Italy\"<\/a><\/div>\n

When they arrived in Rome they found out that brothers and sisters from Forum of Appius (Forty-Three Miles from Rome) and the Three Taverns (Thirty-three miles from Rome) had heard he would be arriving and so they traveled to meet him there.\u00a0\u00a0Including with those who greeted Paul were Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:3-15<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0What a testimony to the centurion and the soldiers who had traveled with him.\u00a0\u00a0The care and love that Paul received was certainly a witness of how the saints of God loved him.\u00a0\u00a0That in itself likely impacted them and confirmed that Paul was thought of as a true man of God.\u00a0\u00a0What a wonderful witness!<\/p>\n

Paul thanked God for his fellow saints who came to greet him and minister to him.\u00a0\u00a0It is true that servants of God minister first to please God and because of the love of God within them.\u00a0\u00a0It is also true that those who truly love God love His people. (John 21:15-17<\/b>) Just as Paul was greatly encouraged by knowing that he was loved and not forgotten, still today are men and women who are being used of God likewise encouraged.\u00a0\u00a0What a great blessing for Paul!<\/p>\n

The NIV translates\u00a0V16<\/b>\u00a0\u201cWhen we got to\u00a0Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him<\/i>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The NKJV gives us greater detail \u201cNow when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but\u00a0Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him<\/i>.\u201d T<\/span>he centurion completed his assignment when he delivered Paul to the captain of the guard in Rome.\u00a0\u00a0This captain was likely a captain over the emperor\u2019s bodyguard.\u00a0\u00a0Which makes sense since Paul was brought to appeal his case (though not formally charged with any crime against Rome) to Caesar.<\/p>\n

Paul came to Rome as a prisoner who was appealing his case to Caesar.\u00a0\u00a0It is how God had opened the door to speak to Caesar.\u00a0\u00a0It Paul had come to Rome as a free man, of his own idea, none of the officials of high rank would have granted him an audience.\u00a0\u00a0Certainly not Caesar.\u00a0\u00a0However, God had found a way to bring Him to Caesar to present the Gospel.\u00a0\u00a0The devil often thinks that he has a winning hand but God has it all under control.\u00a0\u00a0It is God\u2019s plan that wins out, and that is always true!\u00a0\u00a0(Proverbs 19:21<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0We don\u2019t always walk on soft soil or on a sandy beach, sometimes we walk over uphill paths filled with sharp stones and thorns.\u00a0\u00a0Yet we trust God.\u00a0\u00a0We know we that God is in control.\u00a0\u00a0We know that more than the reality of a difficult patch of the road is the reality that God is always good and that He loves us.\u00a0\u00a0Oh our good God loves us so much more than we can imagine!\u00a0\u00a0We hold onto that.\u00a0\u00a0In that is our peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0It is the peace that only God gives and that the world cannot give, because it is powerless do so.\u00a0\u00a0Family, everything is going to be alright.\u00a0\u00a0Better than that, it is all going to end perfectly!\u00a0\u00a0Let us rest in the words that Jesus gave us \u201cPeace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid<\/i>.\u201d (John 14:27<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0Yes Lord, we trust you and thereby we have peace.\u00a0\u00a0Thank you Lord!\u00a0\u00a0We love you Lord!\u00a0\u00a0We praise you Lord God Almighty! Ah, the peace of God!\u00a0\u00a0Praise God!<\/p>\n

P<\/b><\/span>salm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.<\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; and what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.<\/p>\n

Numbers 6:24-26<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 28:1-16\u00a0–\u00a0Once safely on shore, we\u00a0found out that the island\u00a0was called Malta.\u00a0 2. The islanders showed us unusual kindness.\u00a0They built a fire and\u00a0welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.\u00a03\u00a0Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire,\u00a0a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.\u00a04\u00a0When…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,100,94,1874,1871,88,17,10],"class_list":["post-2239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-john","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-philippians","tag-proverbs","tag-psalm","tag-romans"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2239"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2242,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239\/revisions\/2242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}