Daily Scripture Reading Acts 28:11-31
When people hear the truth about Jesus, but do not become believers, it is tempting, and common, for Christians to try and adjust the message so that everyone will pray a prayer of salvation. The mindset is that if Jesus is portrayed in a favorable enough light, then at some point everyone will become a Christian.
Today we will read that when Paul arrived in Rome, he told the Jews in Rome about Jesus, but not everyone believed in Jesus as their Messiah. However, Paul did not adjust his message. Instead, he quoted a passage from Isaiah that is a good reminder to us why we should not water down the truth of the gospel in an attempt to gain as many converts as possible.
The opening verses of Acts 28 tell us that the ship on which Paul was being transported wrecked on the island of Malta. The natives received them very generously and provided for their needs, particularly a leading man named Publius.
Acts 28:11 ¶ Now at the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.
Acts 28:12 After we put into Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
They started this part of their journey on the island of Malta which is an island south of Sicily. They first traveled to Syracuse. It was about 95 miles / 150 km from Malta to Syracuse.
Acts 28:13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and after a day when a south wind sprang up, on the second day we came to Puteoli.
It was about 75 miles / 120 km from Syracuse to Rhegium. Then it was about 210 miles / 340 km from Rhegium to Puteoli.
Acts 28:14 There we found some brothers, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.
Note the word “brothers”. Sometimes in the book of Acts the word brothers was used to refer to Jews, and other times it referred to Christians. I assume in this verse it refers to Christians, although I am not sure of that. According to what we read in Acts, Paul had never been this far west before. However, if these were Christians, this means somehow the gospel had arrived in Puteoli and there were already some Christians in that city.
This verse gives us some insight into the pace of ship travel in those days. They were in this city for seven days. I assume the ship was a merchant ship, so it probably took several days for the ship’s captain to strike deals and then unload what he was selling and load what he had bought.
It was 115 miles / 185 km from Puteoli to Rome. It was probably at least a three week journey from Malta to Rome.
Acts 28:15 And the brothers, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
The brothers in Rome heard Paul was coming to Rome, so they went to meet Paul at Three Inns and the Market of Appius. Once again, the word brothers probably refers to Christians, but it may also refer to Jews.
Acts 28:16 ¶ And when we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
The centurion gave Paul as much latitude as he could without actually releasing Paul from custody.
Acts 28:17 ¶ And it happened that after three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
Notice the phrase “leading men of the Jews”. As we saw throughout the book of Acts, when Paul went to a new city, he first went to the Jews.
Acts 28:18 And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death.
Acts 28:19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.
Acts 28:20 For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.”
The “hope of Israel” was the belief that the Messiah was coming.
Acts 28:21 And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.
Acts 28:22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
The leading men of the Jews knew little about Paul, but they were aware of Christianity and that many Jews were speaking against it.
Acts 28:23 ¶ And when they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly bearing witness about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
There are several words that need highlighted in this verse. The term “large numbers” indicates the interest the Jews had in hearing Paul’s message. The words “Law of Moses” and “Prophets” tell us the basis upon which Paul tried to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah. Essentially, Paul cited the Old Testament predictions about the Messiah and then showed how Jesus fit all the requirements to be the Messiah. That should have been enough evidence for all the Jews to believe in Jesus.
Acts 28:24 And some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others were not believing.
Acts 28:25 And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,
Acts 28:26 saying,
‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,
“YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
Acts 28:27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES;
LEST THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I HEAL THEM.”’
Paul quoted from Isaiah 6. Jesus had also quoted this passage when the Jews did not believe Him.
Don’t miss Paul’s wisdom regarding this. Paul used the Law and Prophets to prove Jesus is the Messiah. Paul knew he had given the Jews sufficient evidence to believe in Jesus. When some of the Jews did not believe, Paul did not try to adjust his message or add to it. He was content to walk away because he knew there was nothing else he could say to convince them. The problem was not that they did not have enough evidence to believe in Jesus; instead, the problem was they did not want to believe.
Today, when people reject the truth about Jesus, it is very tempting for Christians to try and modify the message and make it more palatable. We think that if we come up with the right presentation, then everyone will believe. However, we have to accept the fact that some people will not believe no matter how we present Jesus. Some people simply refuse to submit to Jesus.
Acts 28:28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles—they will also hear.”
Acts 28:29 [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]
Acts 28:30 ¶ And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him,
Acts 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, unhindered.
The word “unhindered” indicates the freedom Paul had to preach the gospel.
When people reject the truth about Jesus, it is tempting to try to make it more palatable. However, we need to keep in mind that some people don’t want to submit to Jesus. If we have clearly told the complete truth about who Jesus is, then we need to be content with that and be willingn to walk away.
Why do some people refuse to believe in Jesus?
What are the essential elements of the gospel message we need to communicate so that if someone does not believe, we can be certain that we have done our part and sufficiently told them the truth?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”