ACTS LESSON 60


    We will begin this last lesson in Acts 28:16 "And when we came to
Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the
guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that
kept him."

    This centurion, Julius, has put in a good word for Paul, and Paul
is not put into the common prison. He is allowed a room by himself, at
possibly a soldiers home or in a soldiers quarters here at the prison.
It does appear, in a later Scripture, that Paul rented a house and the
soldier stayed there with him. I am sure Julius has brought a letter
from Festus and Agrippa, if it was not ruined in the shipwreck. If it
was, Julius can certainly tell of Paul on this most eventful journey.
Paul had actually gotten special privileges for Julius back with the
barbarians.

    Acts 28:17 "And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called
the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he
said unto them, Men [and] brethren, though I have committed nothing
against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered
prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans."

    Someone might ask, how in the world could Paul, a prisoner, call
these Jewish leaders together?  The truth is, that Luke is still with
Paul and many others who are not imprisoned, but can see Paul any time
they wish. They are free to come and go, and some of them have set up
this meeting. Paul wants the Jews to believe and receive Jesus.  He
defends his feelings toward the Jews in the verse above.

    Acts 28:18 "Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me]
go, because there was no cause of death in me."

    Paul is telling them the truth. The captain at Jerusalem found no
fault in him. Felix found no fault, when he examined him. Festus and
Aprippa found no fault in him.

    Acts 28:19 "But when the Jews spake against [it], I was
constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my
nation of."

    Paul says here, that he was not trying to get the Jews in trouble.
He had to appeal to Caesar to save his life.

    Acts 28:20 "For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see
[you], and to speak with [you]: because that for the hope of Israel I
am bound with this chain."

    Paul's persistence in trying to win the Jews to Christ is what got
him in trouble. The Gentiles received the Lord Jesus Christ freely,
but the Jews did not. When Paul tried to teach in the synagogues and
in the temple in Jerusalem, they stoned him and wanted to kill him.

    Acts 28:21 "And they said unto him, We neither received letters
out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came
shewed or spake any harm of thee."

    It appears that these Jews of Asia and the Jews from Jerusalem did
not know that Paul made it to Rome. They had not sent any messages
ahead.

    Acts 28:22 "But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for
as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken
against."

    They are saying here to Paul, that they have not heard anything
bad about Paul as an individual, but they have heard of Jesus of
Nazareth and his followers and all they have heard is that Jews are
opposed to His teachings.

    Acts 28:23 "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many
to him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law
of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till evening."

    We see from this, that these Jews had not already made their mind
up, but came and listened. It appears that Paul taught of Jesus'
grace, love, hope, and resurrection at least eight hours. He showed
them the prophecies from Moses' writings and from the prophetic books,
the promise of a Saviour, born of a virgin, who would die for the sin
of the world, be entombed and rise again on the third day. He shows
them how Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and many more. He told them
of the miracles, how He raised people from the dead, and he surely
told them of his own personal experience with Jesus Christ.

    Acts 28:24 "And some believed the things which were spoken, and
some believed not."

    This is always the case. You will never be able to convince
everyone.

    Acts 28:25 "And when they agreed not among themselves, they
departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,"

    Isaiah was prophesying that these Jews would not receive Jesus.
The Scriptures say that the whole Bible is from holy men of God being
moved upon by the Holy Spirit. II Timothy 3:16 is a good Scripture to
read.

    Acts 28:26 "Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not
perceive:" Acts 28:27 "For the heart of this people is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed;
lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears,
and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I
should heal them."
     For a person to be healed, he must first understand that he is
sick. You must humble yourself to receive Jesus. They are satisfied
with the law and don't want grace. Their hearts are hardened and this
is their real problem. They are full of the law and will not believe
that God has a better plan. The hearing that is needed is not with the
ear, but with the inner man. Their religion is of the flesh and leaves
no room for the Spirit. Jesus called them stiffnecked, too proud to
learn anything.

    Acts 28:28 "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of
God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it."

    The difference in the Jews and Gentiles is that the Jews are self-
satisfied, and the Gentiles know they need a Saviour.  One more time,
Paul has tried to bring the salvation message to the Jews, and they
have rejected it.

      Acts 28:29 "And when he had said these words, the Jews departed,
and had great reasoning among themselves."

    Half believed and half did not. They had been given the truth.
Perhaps, some of it will be received. At least they did not try to
kill Paul for what he believed.

    Acts 28:30 "And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house,
and received all that came in unto him,"

    It seems that Paul was allowed the freedom of preaching, even
though he was not allowed to leave his house. As we said before,
having his own home was certainly different from the housing of the
other prisoners. For two years, he preached in his own home in Rome.

    Acts 28:31 "Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those
things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no
man forbidding him."

    God always tells the truth. The angel that stood before him and
told him he would bring his message in Rome was correct.  This is what
Paul has done the last two years here in Rome. It was better, now that
there was no open opposition to the message Paul was teaching.

    If I have learned one thing from Paul in Acts, it is that even
though the Jews were so violently opposed to Paul, he still loved them
and would suffer almost anything to bring them the good news of the
gospel. Even though many times he almost gave up on them, he would
still go back and try to help them again.

    Thank you for your patience with me in reading this book of Acts.
I might even say, the book of Paul. Many times I, too, thought I might
not be able to finish it, but with God the Holy Spirit's help, and
guidance of highly regarded friends, it is finished. God richly bless
you everyone.

                  Your friend in Christ, Louise Handy
                          Acts 60 Questions


1.  Paul dwelled by himself, with whom guarding him in Rome?
2.  What was the centurion's name?
3.  Julius, the centurion, had probably brought a letter from ______.
4.  What had Paul done for this centurion on this trip?
5.  Who did Paul call together after three days?
6.  What does Paul say, in verse 17 about himself?
7.  Whose hands had Paul been delivered into?
8.  What fault did the captain in Jerusalem find in Paul?
9.  Who had Paul appealed to?
10. For the____________________ of Israel Paul was bound with a chain.
11. In verse 21, what did these men think of Paul?
12. In verse 22, what did these men ask Paul to tell them about?
13. Where was the meeting between Paul and these Jews held?
14. Name four things Paul taught about Jesus.
15. What results did this bring in these Roman Jews?
16. Who did Paul say had prophesied this?
17. In verse 26, what did Paul say was wrong with their seeing and
    hearing?
18. What was wrong with their heart?
19. For a person to be healed, what must he first realize?
20. What is the real problem with these people?
21. What did Jesus call this type person?
22. In verse 28, who does Paul say will accept salvation?
23. When did the Jews leave?
24. How many years did Paul live in his own house in Rome and
    minister?
25. The author realized in these lessons that Paul never gave up on
    whom?
26. What is the Book of Acts, really?

                                 Notes