Comments for May 13

v. 6 - This concept of the circumcision of the heart is surely a bridge between the old and new covenants, and in this context a way of telling Israel that although they denied and rejected the old, they can, with repentance, along with all the nations of the earth be eligible for a place in the new covenant by repentance and baptism. Deut.10:16, Jer.4:4, 32:39, Eze.11:19,20, John 3:3-7, Rom.2:28-29, Col.2:11.

ch.30 The wonderful words of comfort that Moses gives to the children of Israel - that despite their rebellion if they repent God will hear them - is a wonderful comfort to us. Solomon bases his prayer at the dedication of the temple [1 Kings 8 2 Chronicles 6] on this section in Deuteronomy - look at the similarities of language for yourself.

v.7 - Notice that God's care goes even further than the blessings - it even goes so far as to curse our enemies. We can stand truly in God's strength, having confidence that what he has promised he will surely perform.

30:6 We have already seen how the curses of chapter 28 are used by Jeremiah. Now we see that he also uses the appeal and promise. (Jeremiah 4:4)

30:9 A repeating of an element of the blessing promised.(Deuteronomy 28:11)

:15 Israel were presented with a stark choice. We do well to reflect on that choice because it is our choice also.

30:20 In speaking of "the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" Moses is reminding Israel of Joseph's faith (Gen 50:24)

V.15  The alternative of a good and happy life,or a disobedient and miserable life. The love of God, and the compliance with His will are the only ways of being granted the blessings, and avoiding the evils described. The choice was left with them. Moses spoke to them in earnestness, similar to that of Paul when speaking to the elders at Ephesus. Acts 20:26-27

V.16   God commands His people to love Him: something that one human would not impose upon another.  But God's ways are not man's ways (Isa 55:9).  Although it is a commandment, there is an expectation that man would heartily desire to love God (Deut 6:5).

"God is thy life" (Deut 30:20). 
It was in this light that Paul could say, "To me to live is Christ." (Phil 1:21)

30:4        These comforting words are quoted in Neh 1:9 when he was in captivity, nearing the end of the 70 years that Jeremiah had spoken of.  Jer 25:11.

V.1-6 - in the aftermath of World War II God has partially restored to Israel those whom He dispersed and in 1948 the nation of Israel was established. In many cases their hearts have yet to be circumcised, but that day will come and they will look on him who they pierced Zech 12:10

30:1-2  The blessing and curses which were to prove Israel will eventually being about a spiritual regeneration in Israel. Therefore God teaches us that consistency in discipline is the way to bring about growth. Surely the Father does this in our lives. Likewise we should use this principle – consistency – with our own children. There is no value in changing a correct approach because it does not seem to be working.

God had just taken the children of Israel to Him as a special people... the second time! All the generation of those who despised Him had died in the wilderness, and now God was renewing His covenant with their children. This covenant was a two way bargain:

- They would be a Kingdom of special people, showing others around them how good God's laws were;
- He would bless them above any other nation as a result of them keeping His laws.

So we can see that bound up in both sides of that bargain was a keeping of God's law. It simply couldn't work without it. The law was the way in which they would become special. And the law was the way that God would bless them. How so? Well, firstly, the law gave their society such a perfect moral, social, and economic structure, that life would simply be better than it had been before. Secondly, keeping of the law would show God that they meant to serve Him, and He would reward them with extra blessings. Thirdly, recognition that God was with them would bring them the awe of the neighbouring nations. This would protect them and create trading alliances, increasing their prosperity as can be seen during the reign of Solomon.

30:3   The promise that God would  gather Israel from the nations is amazing. They had not yet gone into the land but they are told, by implication, that they were to be taken from the land! Of course we know that this happened but we should remember that Israel did not have the benefit of hindsight.

V.1 Yahweh anticipates that His people will fail and be cursed. But, he leaves the door open for repentance (v.2). If repentance occurs, then the LORD will accept it and heal His people (v.3). Such is the mercy of Yahweh towards Israel and to us also (1John 1:9).

30:10 Notice it is ‘all’ the heart and soul. A half hearted approach to serving God is totally unacceptable. This was Israel’s failure over and over again. They worshipped God but still kept their idols. We are just as liable to do the same thing, even though we do not worship stone or wood idols there are things in our lives which interfere with our service to God – and we are willing to allow this – else we would stop those activities!

Vs.12-14 These verses are paralleled by Paul in his discourse to the Romans (Rom 10:6-8).

V.19 Yahweh has given humans a free will.  We have the power of choice.  The right choices can lead to salvation, while the wrong ones will surely lead to death. Yahweh has laid out the possibilities in His Word.  It is up to humankind to search the scriptures to discover His plan. 

There is one basic choice which is the same as the one Joshua presented to Israel (Josh 24:15).  There are only two options: choose to serve Yahweh and live, or choose to serve the gods of this world and die. But, be advised that the gods of this world have multiplied since Joshua’s day and some are subtly disguised in the modern world.

If the right choices have not yet been made, then it is important to make them as soon as possible if salvation is the goal. There is not much time left to do so.

To Love the LORD God again after He had caused such terrible punishments to come upon Israel would be difficult (v6). This is why the process of Israel's return is written in stages. First repentance and obedience was required (v2). On this basis God would save them from their punishment (v3). God would then take the extra step of blessing them greatly (v5). He would then work with them to gradually bring back that Love which was lacking (v6). Only then would He expect to see them keeping all His laws as He had commanded them (v8).

This passage shows how pleased God is when we genuinely repent, and the gentleness with which He will restore us (also Luke 15:4-7).

v. 19-20: The choice: Is this not the same choice God gave man in the garden. Choose to obey my voice and not eat of the tree and live or eat an die. Only in obedience was the way of the tree of life left open to man. This choice has now been given to us. The consistency of God remains.

30:11-14 We may think that Paul’s use of this language – Rom 10:5-6 - is just speaking to the Jews about how they should see Christ and faith in the law. However the principles which applied to the Jews apply to ourselves Our Father is looking for works of faith from us – that is actions which demonstrate that we actually do believe the things which we profess to believe.

30:3-5 Israel had not yet entered the land promised to their fathers.  However Moses tells them about being scattered and regathered. This must have been a puzzle to those listening to Moses, though what he was saying  would become abundantly clear as time progressed and faithless Israel were removed into other countries.

30:19  The way that Moses calls heaven and earth to record is echoed by Paul – Acts 20:26 – Moses is about to die. Paul will not see the ecclesia in Ephesus again.

30:17  In speaking of  the heart turning away God accurately describes the way we are. It is never logic (common sense as we something say) that causes us to forsake God and place confidence in things of no value.

The parable of the lost son

v5 "more than your fathers" reminds me of some of the words of Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son. When the son came to his senses and was restored, he was treated in a better way than the son who had not gone astray. Is this perhaps one of the scriptures that Jesus used to create his parable? After all, God does refer to Israel as "my son" (see Hos 11:1)

Deut 30:6

30:6   In telling Israel, at the border of the land of Canaan, that He would “circumcise thine heart” we see an indication that despite being faithful the people had not taken the law to themselves. It was just a matter of laws spoken.  We have to ask whether we just know what the Gospel requires of us or does out understanding of the gospel message enter into our hearts and affect the way in which we live.

30:6-10           Looking to the time when “all Israel shall be saved” – Rom 11:26 – Moses speaks of the blessing that will come upon the repentant nation. This will be when Christ has returned and the kingdom is established with Jerusalem as the capital of the world.

30:6    The time when God will circumcise Israel’s heart will be when the “new covenant” of Jer 31:31-34 which involves the forgiveness of sins will be fulfilled in the nation of Israel.

30:1-3  If God had not made this wonderful provision for Israel - Namely that he would bless a repentant nation even in captivity – then Solomon’s prayer - 1Kin 8:22-54 – especially those sections where Solomon asks God to “hear thou in heaven” would have been of little value.

28:29  An ability to find one’s way at “noonday” as a curse against those who would not obey God’s laws is seen in the way in which Saul of Tarsus was struck blind at midday – Acts 9:3, 22:6, 26:13

30:4-5 If we are not careful we might forget that Moses is speaking to Israel about scattering and regathering them into he land of Israel before they have even entered under the leadership of Joshua. In his foreknowledge Israel’s God knew they would sin and in His mercy he tells them of how that mercy will be shown to them later in their history.

30:2“and ye shalt return unto the Lord thy God” indicates that God expected the punishments that He would bring on unfaithful Israel would bring repentance though it seems often it did not. For example Amos 4:9-11

30:20the phrase land sworn to Abraham Isaac and Jacob in its slight variations is only found in what we might call the books of the wilderness journey. This is the last time that we come across this or a similar phrase in scripture.

30:4 Jesus draws on the words “outmost parts of heaven” in what we call the “Olivet Prophecy” – Mark 13:27

v2 Look at the emphasis upon the "heart" in this chapter

  v2: obey with all your heart

  v6 circumcise your heart so that you will love God with all your heart

  v10 repent with all your heart

  v14 the word is in your heart

So what is the enemy of serving God with all our heart?

Answer:

  v17 Idolatry! We cannot serve God with all our heart if there are other gods filling our heart.

30:1-3  So, before the nation even entered the land of Canaan Yahweh spoke to His people about them being re-gathered to the land. The perceptive amongst those listening  to Moses speaking would have concluded that in the land of Canaan the nation would continue in its rebellious ways just as they had in Egypt and the wilderness. Not a very encouraging thought!

v.3 - We have left our Zion theme for a while, but here it returns - the mountain of the Lord, where the law and the word of the Lord will go forth - epitomised at the moment in Jesus and his work of intercession, thereby granting us access to the Lord. Jer.31:6, 50:4,5, Zech.8:20-23.

v.5 - it is by light that all things, good and evil, are manifest. The essence of true righteous thinking,. therefore, is to be in the light, where all is revealed and nothing kept secret. Isa.60:1, Luke 1:79, Eph.5:13

2:20  'lay aside'   is a powerful Biblical command. It is more than a casual putting aside. It is an active dissociation from evil.

Ezekiel 18:31 Romans 13:12 Ephesians 4:22 Colossians 3:5,8
Hebrews 12:1 1 Peter 2:1 James 1:21

:2-4 is paralleled in Micah 4:1-3. Isaiah 2:5, which contains an appeal. The appeal is seen - Micah 4:4 - as a statement which will be fulfilled in the future kingdom of God.

V.2  The same as Mic 4:1 We would suggest that Isaiah's prophesy was ahead of Micah. Isaiah began his prophecy during the reign of Uzziah, while Micah began his during the reign of Jotham. Micah, is in fact confirming that which had already been spoken by Isaiah.  

2:1 Notice that whilst Isaiah received words he saw them. This is like Mic 1:1 which is the only other place where words were seen.

The picture of peace in the Kingdom (v.4), (echoed by Mic 4:3), is the flip side to the situation foreseen by (Joel 3:10).  The establishment of the Kingdom will be preceded by a terrible worldwide earthquake when all the interconnecting fault-lines will become violently active. Great edifices to the pride of man will come tumbling down, accompanied by panic and dismay.  Shaking the Red Sea fault-line will open up access to the Dead Sea to heal its waters (Eze 47:8-10); split the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4); raise Zion to a plateau above the surrounding landscape (v.2; Eze 40:2). 

I have read, (but cannot remember where), that Isa 2:3) had a local application in the times of Hezekiah, and then of-course will have a later fulfilment when Jesus returns as King. After Hezekiah had recovered from his illness, 2Chron 32:23 says that many brought gifts to God and presents to the king in Jerusalem.  The prophecy therefore came true once, in Isaiah’s days, and therefore will happen again.

2:3 The cry ‘come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord’ clearly looks to the time of the kingdom nut it was a cry that Jeremiah appealed to – Jer 31:6  – as encouragement after he had spoken of the captivity in Babylon,

V.8,17,18- a few humbling verses as I contemplate "idols" that distract me from the Lord's work and that I will be asked to account for on judgment day when Christ returns.

2:5 The call to walk in the name of the Lord is echoed – Mic 4:5 – by the contemporary prophet where walking in the name of the Lord is equivalent to walking in light..

2:5 We see that Micah compliments Isaiah in Mic 4:1-5. We note that V. 4 of Micah is not found in Isaiah. Micah presents a more complete picture of the kingdom age. Micah also gives the remnants an answer to the exhortation of this verse. 

2:5 Walking in the light of the Lord not only speaks of what will happen in the kingdom but is our obligation today – Eph 5:8

2:10 The way that the idol worshippers are encouraged to ‘enter into the rocks to hide contrasts markedly with God’s call to the believers to ‘hide themselves’ – Isa 26:20

The second, third and fourth chapters of Isaiah constitute one discussion.  Mainly they deal with the punishment that the disobedient Jews will face at the hands of the Babylonians.  But, Isaiah also talks about the Messiah; the inclusion of the Gentiles in salvation; and the kingdom.

Vs.1-5 These verses portray the kingdom where both Jews and Gentiles will be governed by Jesus  in an peaceful environment.

V.21 Yahweh’s judgment of His disobedient people will contain both physical and political earthquakes.  It is possible that Isaiah told this prophecy in the time of Uzziah.  We know that there was an earthquake in Uzziah’s time and that the people fled in fear (Zech 14:5). But, Judah would also face a political earthquake at the hand of the Babylonians.

We can see the legacy Solomon left in v6-8.

v20-21 was fulfilled in the coming of Sennacherib who cleaned out Israel. His boastful words exactly reflect these in 36:18-20. These gods had not saved Israel or their capital city, Samaria.

Isa 2:1-4;Mic 4:1-8;Luke 1:32-33 - The future millennial kingdom age when called out Jews and Gentiles are blessed, and Christ reigns on earth from David's throne in Jerusalem. 

2:4 This verse is echoed in the contemporary prophet – Mic 4:3 – and d doubtless contrasts the situation as it was in the days of Hezekiah when the Assyrians surrounded the city of Jerusalem and maybe before that when Judah saw that the Assyrians were attacking Israel in the North.

2:10   In speaking of ‘the glory of His majesty’ Isaiah is speaking of God’s glory being seen in judgement which is the way that Paul uses the phrase in 2Thess 1:9

2:3    The promise that people would want to go to Jerusalem to worship God is alluded to by a prophet after the exile to remind those who had returned of the wonderful time that had been prophesied – Zech 8:21

2:3      The way in which Isaiah speaks of God’s word proceeding from Jerusalem is echoed in the contemporary prophet - Amos 1:2.

2:16   The ‘pleasant pictures’ are no ancient artwork. They are idols. The RV has ‘imagery’ The trade of Tarshish is associated with worship.

2:12     The pride and loftiness of man is going to be brought low. Isaiah is speaking particularly of Israel. However the principle applies to every individual. No flesh is to glory in His presence1Cor 1:29 as Haman discovered after he exalted himself – Est 5:11.

1. Isa 2:1 - the future world capital when the Son of God (Jesus Christ of the tribe of Judah) returns to rule the earth will be Jerusalem which is located in what was called Judah in Isaiah's day. Isa 2:2-3 - the mountain of the Lord will be "exalted" (i.e. lifted) in a political, legal, social, and religious importance sense. Isa 2:2-5 - the new age to come of the Messianic rule (somewhat echoed by the reign of Hezekiah and the destruction of the Assyrian army that beseiged Jerusalem) will be characterized by the end of war. Isa 2:3 - "many people" (note it doesn't say all people); "the house of the God of Jacob" (Christ will rule the kingdom on behalf of his Father, God, till sin and death are done away with 1Cor 15:23-28); "Zion" (1st mentioned in 2Sam 5:7) is often a synonym for Jerusalem. Isa 2:4 - a new and better world order is to soon come and the various nations will be judged and many peoples will be rebuked but there will then be peace (Mic 4:3;Isa 17:13;Psa 110:2;Psa 2:9;Rev 2:27;Dan 2:44-45;Rev 19:6-16).

2. Isa 2:6 - God hasn't abandoned his people, His people have abandoned themselves and turned to superstitions from the East and the practice of divination. Isa 2:6-9 - because Israel prefers idols and various false worship to the true God is the reason they will be somewhat forsaken until the glorious Messianic age to come. Isa 2:7 - a land full of silver, gold, horses, chariots (Deut 17:16-17).

3. using Isa 2:6,9,12 of the KJV: note the uses of "because", "therefore", "For".

4. Isa 2:10-21 - there will be a terrible retribution in the last days as the loftiness and pride of man in his materialistic achievements are to be humiliated by the might of God (2Chron 26:6-16;2Sam 7:12-16;Psa 110:1-4;Lev 16:11-13) and this somewhat reminds us of Uzziah who unjustly exalted himself as if he were a king-priest like Melchizedek and Jesus.

Isa 2:11 - the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. Isa 2:12 - the Lord will be upon those who are proud and lofty and they will be humbled. Isa 2:13 - perhaps the "Oaks of Bashan' refers to the mighty of the land (Zech 11:1-2). Isa 2:17-18,20,22 - the arrogance of man will be brought low, don't trust in man (Jer 17:5), idols will be abolished, the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

5. Isa 2:19,21 - going into the clefts of rocks for fear of the Lord (Rev 6:12,15-17); V.21 "shake terribly the earth" (Zech 14:4-5) - Uzziah was humbled and so there will be an earthquake and humbling of the proud in the last days when Jesus Christ stands on the Mount of Olives which was also somewhat foreshadowed in the resurrection of Jesus (Matt 28:1-6). 

6. Isa 2:22 - the command to cease going the way of fleshly mortal man.

2:2    We know that the words in Mic 4:1-3 were spoken to Hezekiah because Jer 26:18 says that Mic 3:12 was spoken to Hezekiah. So we can conclude that Isaiah reinforced the words which Micah spoke to the king.

2:6         In the days of the prophet the people had forgotten that God provided all that they could need. So they sought help from Assyria and form the Philistines. The should have remembered that the Philistines had been a long time enemy of theirs.

2:3     The assertion that God will rebuke nations is another things which the contemporary prophet – Mic 4:3 – echoes.

2:4  Notice the fact that God will rebuke will bring about the change in behaviour of the nations. There will be a willingness to implement God’s laws which, up to this point, are not known and understood.

2:6 This is the only place where soothsaying <6049> is ascribed to the Philistines. However, the same Hebrew term is spoken of elsewhere in conjunction with diviners, for example, “observers of times <6049>, and unto diviners <7080>” (Deut. 18:14). And diviners were used by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 6:2: “And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners <7080>, saying, What shall we do to the ark of Yahweh?”.

2:2 Yahweh is often associated with mountains. The mountain on which Isaac was going to be offered is called "the Mount of the Lord” – Gen 22:14 – focussing again on salvation .

2:5 The appeal to the nation to come and walk in the light of the Lord has to be seen against the dire warning that Micah gave, that Jerusalem would be ploughed as a field (Mic 3:12). We know that good king Hezekiah took heed to what Micah said – Jer 26:19) – and so the judgment did not come in his days. However the people disregarded the warning of the prophets and so eventually Jerusalem was ploughed as a field by the Romans.

2:7-8  It would appear the prophet is speaking of Assyria – the threat in the days of Hezekiah. From a materialistic point of view the Assyrians had need of nothing – plenty of silver and gold, for example. However there was a down side to Assyria – it was full of idols.

Do we mix the material things we have with the corruption that is in the world? Do we see some actions as justified in order to obtain the material things this life offers?

v8 Look at the emphasis on idolatry in this chapter

  v8Their land is filled with idols

  v18 the idols shall utterly pass away

  v20 idols of silver and gold

What is the antidote to idolatry?

Answer:

  v17 Having God alone exalted in our hearts - no competitors

2:6 The way that the nation of Israel are likened to the “Philistines” must have come as a real shock to them. The Philistines were always, right from the time that Israel entered the land of Canaan, been Israel’s enemies ad condemned by God. But now God likens them to those very people!

v. 4 - The attitude here of the barbarous people is one that scripture warns God-fearing men against. Individual 'natural punishments' such as accidents and illnesses and bereavements, are not a direct result of an individual's sin. So often scripture goes to great pains to tell us this, that we suffer in this way because of being 'in Adam'. This event is recorded partly to support this truth, especially as the shallow nature of their thinking is demonstrated in v.6 by their complete change of opinion! Luke 13:2-4, John 9:1-3.

28:23-29 As if to mark the continuing opposition and blindness of the Jews Paul’s final recorded discussion in Acts is with Jews who do not believe. However this does not stop him preaching the kingdom of God for the last two verses of the Acts tell us that is what Paul did. This serves as an example to us to continue even if we have to cope with opposition

Some might think that as the Acts is so much concerned with the work of Paul that his death might have been recorded. However the Acts is not so much concerned with the life of Paul as the spreading of the gospel. Paul was just a tool, therefore his death, in that sense, is not important and so is not recorded.

WHEREVER WE ARE

Paul's mission in life was to spread the gospel to as many people as he possibly could - to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. By the time we come to the end of the book of Acts he had travelled through most of the known world of that time preaching the gospel to whoever would hear. The amazing thing about Paul was that sometimes he went where he wanted to go, other times he was led by God and at other times he was taken as a prisoner where he did not want to go, but wherever he went and no matter what his circumstances were when he got there, he always made the most of his situation to preach the gospel. And so, as a prisoner heading to Rome the gospel message was heard by nearly everyone he met.Wherever he was, whatever his circumstances he made sure that the gospel got out.

We have much more freedom than Paul had. We are not bound with chains and going to places we have no control over, so we should be able to get the message of the gospel out much more freely than Paul. He could do it wherever he was, why can't we?

:8 Whilst we know the laying on of hands was the means whereby the Holy Spirit was given there were other things associated with the laying on of hands. Here is was a way of Paul associating himself with the sufferer much as Jesus did (Matthew 8:17)

Acts 28:20. It certainly would be wonderful if we could develop the same level of confidence as Paul had in the promises. We see here and in many other places that Paul was prepared to give his life for them. It makes us think on the words he wrote to the Corinthians. “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (NKJV)

Acts 28:30. The Roman law had a provision that the plaintiff had two years in which to prove his charge, failing which the accused would go free. Luke must have supplied this information to tell the readers that the Jews once again had failed to convince the adjudicators that they (Jews) had a legitimate charge against Paul. After the two years Paul would be free to go where he wished.

28:30 There is no certain information as to what happened to Paul in Rome. However the mention of Paul being in his own hired house for two years may indicate that the charges against him eventually were dropped. If a prisoner was not brought to trial within two years the charges were dropped.

V.11  Paul travelled in a ship which bore the sign of Castor and Pollux.  They were called the Dioscuri, the two heroes of both Roman and Greek mythology.   In Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux were the twin sons of Zeus and were associated with the constellation Gemini.  If sailors could see Gemini it bode well for good weather.  Therefore carrying Castor and Pollux as a ship's figurehead was considered a good luck charm at sea.  Today, many Catholics do a similar thing by carrying a statue of St. Christopher, the (supposed) patron saint of travellers, on their car dashboard.

Paul arrived in Rome 60-61 AD.  He was under house arrest for two years.  Under Roman law, if any accusations against a prisoner went unsubstantiated after two years, the prisoner would be freed.  In Paul's case, that meant he was probably freed in AD 62-63.  

Nero was the emperor at this time (54-68 AD).  He was a cruel, despotic ruler.  Nero had his mother murdered to shift suspicion away from his involvement in the death of his half-brother.  He was a homosexual who engaged in much debauchery and excess. 

There was a great fire in Rome in 64 AD.  To deflect suspicion that he had caused it, Nero accused the Christians of starting the fire.  He then set about a campaign of great persecution towards Christians.  Although it is not certain what happened to Paul, it is probable that he was executed during this time. 

V.3-4 We understand that to-day on Malta that there are no poisonous vipers or snakes, but we have to accept the fact that there were poisonous snakes there at the time of Paul's shipwreck. Luke tells us that there were, and we have no way of proving him wrong.  

28:2  The way that the meaning of words changes over time might cause us to think that the Maltese were normally blood thirsty and cruel given the use of the word ‘barbarous’ however the word simply indicates that they were neither Christian nor Jew.

V.3,8 In these two verses there are two events that took place that we should take note of: V.3: Paul was unaffected by the serpents bite, and V.8 were the laying on of the hands by Paul healed the sick. Now go back to the last recorded words of the Master by Mark, Mark 16:18 Exactly what we have recorded by Luke here. 

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
 
Wouldn't it be great to be able to cause people to give praise and thanks to God? We don't have to be a prominent person, a speaker, a musician or a worship leader to do it, any one of us has the potential to cause praise and thanks to rise to God from other people. And no, it doesn't take a great skill of persuasion or a charismatic personality to do it. You and I have all the qualifications we need.
 
In Paul's day a number of unnamed brothers caused thanks to rise to God from the lips of Paul, probably without them even realising what they had just done. Luke informs us as to what happened, saying, "And so we came to Rome. The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they travelled as far as the forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of them Paul thanked God and was encouraged." (Acts 28:14-15)
 
Yes, we can encourage people and cause praise and thanks to rise to God in the same way that our brothers in Rome did. All it takes are some random acts of kindness. Visiting someone sick, an encouraging phone call, a card, a word of encouragement, helping in an appropriate way and even just a smile can cause praise and thanks to rise to God and give our brothers and sisters the motivation to be strong and carry on. Let's do it today.

28:2 The mention of ‘rain’ and ‘cold’ adds to the discomfort of the situation. Also it highlights details of the time that the ship was being driven of the storm which are not given in the details of the shipwreck. It must have been truly miserable.

It’s lovely that we read in the concluding words of the Acts of the Apostles that Paul was able to preach in Rome, the headquarters of the whole Roman Empire, with “no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30,31). God had told Paul that he would preach in Rome (Acts 23:11), and he did.

28:3  Whilst the gathering sticks incident shows that the promise of Mark 16:18 was kept we also learn that Paul, even though a prisoner, did not expect to be waited on. He was involved in the work of caring for all the prisoners.  We in like manner should realise that we should support out ‘fellow prisoners’.

Just to have some idea of distances: Puteoli (v.13), north of the bay of Naples, was 170 miles from Rome; Appii Forum (the Market of Appius) on the Via Appii (Appian Way) (v.15) was 43 miles from Rome; The Three Taverns (v.15), also on the Via Appia, was 11 miles from Rome.

28:5 The way in which Paul survived the bite of the venomous beast shows the truth of Jesus’ words – Mark 16:18 –as applied to the lives of his apostles.

v 31 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Gospel concerns God's Kingdom
The Gospel preached by Jesus and the Apostles concerns the Kingdom of God.
1. Examples of teaching concerning the Kingdom of God
Matt 4:23, Mark 1:14, Luke 8:1, Acts 8:12, Acts 19:8, Acts 20:25, Acts 28:31
For more about the Gospel concerning God's Kingdom, go to Matt 4:23

V.1 It was originally thought that Melita was the island of Meleda, but re-evaluation has confirmed Melita as Malta.

V.8 The father of Publius is described as having a fever and a bloody flux (dysentery).  This description shows that the writer of the acts was acquainted with medical conditions.  Indeed, Luke who wrote the Acts was a physician (Col 4:14).

Vs.25,26 These verses answer to Isa 6:9.

28:14  Whilst Paul was being taken to Rome for trial it seems that there was a degree of flexibility in the way that the Romans dealt with him for here we see that he chose to spend seven days with brethren

28:9      One has to wonder what impact all of this healing had on the Maltese accepting the gospel. There is no indication in the Acts that there were any ecclesias in Malta.

v20 First Principles>The Promises made to the Fathers>The Hope of the Christian in the Promises

Paul's confession is in Acts 28:20. He was prepared to suffer martyrdom (Acts 21:13) in his confession to Festus Acts 26:6. The Christians have hope in the promises to Abraham Gal 3:8, 16 and without hope otherwise Eph 2:12.

For more about the promises which God made to Abraham, go to Gen 12:2

28:7   It would appear that Publius had more than one home on the island and that he was at this location at the time of the ship wreck. Providentially he was there with his father in law. The scene was set for the word of God to be preached, the miracle of healing providing the impetus for the people to listen to Paul.

Acts 28:20 – “for the Hope of Israel am I bound with this chain.”  Paul’s words are taken from the Old Testament.  Jeremiah tells us that the Lord (Yahweh) is the saviour, “the hope of Israel” (Jer 14:7).  We must not forsake the hope of Israel (Jer 17:13).  If we do then our names will “be written in the earth”.  Compare, with the faithful whose “names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Paul continues, “for the hope of Israel am I bound with this chain.”  The High Priest’s breastplate was bound with chains of pure gold to the Priest’s ephod (Exo 39:15-21).  The gold chains prevented the breastplate coming loose when the Priest went into holy place (Exo 28:22-29).  He bore the breastplate upon his heart.  This was typical of the work of our High Priest Jesus who has gone into the Holy place for us.  We, as spiritual Israel, are bound to Jesus who entered within the veil. He is for us, “as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast” (Heb 6:19).

28:7       Publius doubtless was made aware that the ship had been carrying prisoners. We might have thought that he would have taken care of the ship’s captain and the centurion and maybe the crew. However the record is clear here. He took care of Paul – one of the prisoners.  Are we respecters of persons? Clearly Publius was not. He saw people in need and tended to their needs.

28:16  Now Paul is in Rome he is not treated like a common criminal. He is allowed to live where it suits him – not in prison. On his journey we have read how the centurion allowed Paul to spend time with his fellow believers. Now he is settled in Rome his friends can come and go as they please. An incidental indication that the Roman authorities realised Paul was no ordinary prisoner. 

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Jesus had told his disciples, "... the Holy Spirit  shall come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the ends of the earth."  For Paul, however, "the ends of the earth" was Rome.

Paul's goal was to take the gospel to Rome, and finally in this chapter he gets there in chains. His trip was tumultuous through ship wreck, and many trials, yet through the grace of God, he made it. Although Paul may have wished for an easier journey, he knew that God had greatly blessed him to accomplish this mission, and God can do the same for us.

We are included in the out working of the Great Commission that the Lord gave his disciples Acts 1:8, let us regardless of our situation, "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus", never wavering, but realizing that "God's will" - will be done!

28:30   In being allowed to dwell in is own hired house we see, once again, that Paul is not treated like a normal prisoner. However he is now in Rome and all this was achieved at the expense of Rome! It all seemed to natural but God has achieved his objective with Paul

28:10-11       There is no indication that Paul’s three months on the island of Malta bore any fruit to God in baptisms. We should take comfort thinking about this. Doubtless Paul did not stop preaching because of an apparent lack of response. In like manner we should not be disheartened by an apparent lack of response to our preaching.

28:14   We have no idea of the extent and number of brethren in the first century. We should realise that there were more believers in the Roman empire than in the churches that Paul wrote to and visited.

28:5 We doubtless are aware of the way in which Jesus promised – Mark 16:18 – that his apostles would not need to fear poisonous animals. However we are taken further back in our consideration to God’s plan for Adam – Gen 1:28speaks of Adam having “dominion” over the animal creation.

28:11  We have already read of the ship that was shipwrecked travelling form Alexandria towards Rome. The fact that there was another ship making the same journey incidentally shows the trade of wheat from Egypt to Rome.           

Acts 28:22

“But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

Acts 5:17 speaks of the sect of the Sadducees; in Acts 15:5, we read of the sect of the Pharisees, and in Acts 24:5, we have the sect of the Nazarenes, also known as The Way (Acts 24:24, RSV).  The sect of the Sadducees and sect of the Pharisees, though opposing each other’s doctrinal teachings, stirred up such animosity, hatred, opposition, and persecution against the one and only true sect, the sect of the Nazarenes.

The leader of the sect of the Nazarenes was Christ. The Nazarenes claimed all the other sects were wrong, which they were (Acts 4:12), their message threatened the leaders’ false teachings, which it was, and so were ordered not speak their message, which they refused choosing to obey God, not men (Acts 4:18-21; 5:29). This new sect condemned the religious leaders of their day, and rightly so (Acts 7:51-53). It also threatened certain trades enriched through idolatry (Acts 16:16-19; Acts 19:25-27). They refused to alter their preaching (Acts 4:18-20;5:28,29; cf. 2Tim 4:3,4), and created “no small stir about the Way” in the process (Acts 19:23). This sect was the early ecclesia, a loving ecclesia, who sought uncompromisingly the favour of God and not the favour of men and were persecuted because of it.

America, as a Christian nation founded on Christian principles, accepted all the different sects and welcomed them to practice their religion here without persecution. But several years ago it was formally announced America is no longer a Christian nation, but also a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc. nation! This is very different to what the founding fathers declared. While these different sects were allowed to practice their beliefs without persecution in a Christian nation, some were dissenting, schismatic, violent and extreme, refusing to assimilate and tolerate other sects! Our founding fathers said America could only be destroyed from within, and here we are witnessing the veracity of their words. Unchecked by the government, it tolerated a minor factious sect, which wants to turn America into a Muslim nation, while telling the people to be tolerant of the intolerant Islamic sect, and not be Islamophobic! https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/january/top-50-christian-persecution-open-doors-world-watch-list.html/

We are living in extremely dark and dangerous times, but the Bible reveals how God’s favour shines the brightest amid the darkest of times. Noah lived in an exceptionally evil generation. Esther lived in extremely dangerous times amidst powerful men who wanted to destroy Judaism and eradicate all its people. Daniel was taken captive and refused to compromise his God, and the Great Ail Shaddai delivered them all! They were faithful to their beliefs and sought only the favour of God and God brought His favour upon them. These events parallel our day wherein Judeo-Christianity and various other sects around the globe are told to convert to Islam or die. If we think it won’t come here, well, it is already here and spreading! http://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/america-sharia-law.html

There is talk of a possible civil war outbreak in America during the 2020 election year. Unlike the North versus the South, if would be the Liberal versus the Conservative. Regardless, it is God who sets up and brings down governments (Psa 75:7; Dan 2:21; 4:17). It is not for us to complain or oppose what God sets up. We already know that these unprecedented troublous times prophesied will only usher in the return of Christ for which we yearn and is our only hope.

28:29 Against the background of the emotional appeal that some make about Jesus saving us from our sins it is important to notice that it was a reasoned presentation that caused the Jews to think about Jesus and the claims that he was the Christ.

28:29 Against the background of the emotional appeal that some make about Jesus saving us from our sins it is important to notice that it was a reasoned presentation that caused the Jews to think about Jesus and the claims that he was the Christ.

28:16 There are a number of indications throughout Paul’s time in Roman care as a prisoner where we see Paul is treated differently from the other prisoners. How many prisoners could arrange to stay with friends for a week on their way to Rome?

28:20 Notice yet again Paul emphasises that he was to preach to the gentiles. As non-Jews we take it for granted that the gospel message has been extended to us. We should appreciate, however, that it is because the Jews failed to recognise Jesus as their messiah that we have access to the gospel.

28:15 In our modern day of rapid, almost instant, communication we might be forgiven for thinking that in the first century things were rather different with information taking many days to be shared.

Pauls circumstance would be well known to the believers in Rome  who would be aware that Paul was on his way to be tried before |Caesar. The news about the shipwreck would have spread also. Son on hearing that Paul had finally arrived in Italy they wasted no time in going to meet him – the less enthusiastic might have simply waited in Rome saying “we can see him when he gets here”.

Are we willing to inconvenience ourselves in order to provide comfort and encouragement to fellow believes?