Dwell in the Word: Acts 28:1-16

Consider these questions as you dwell in Acts 28:1-16:

1. In the account of Paul's time on the island of Malta, we see him facing a snake bite without harm and seizing the opportunity to share the gospel. How does this episode illustrate the theme of God's providential care and the unexpected opportunities for witness in challenging circumstances?

2. Paul expresses gratitude for the support and fellowship of the Christian community. How does the importance of community and mutual support emerge in this narrative? In what ways can believers today find strength and courage in their Christian community during challenging times?

3. Despite the uncertainties and challenges ahead, Paul takes courage and gives thanks to God. How does this response reflect a deep trust in God's sovereign plan and the significance of maintaining a thankful heart in the midst of difficulties? How can modern believers cultivate a similar attitude in their daily lives?

Transcript:

 So, as we land here towards the end of the book of Acts, we continue to have a whole lot of story without much dialogue, don't we? We know that Paul is out and about teaching, but we're not hearing much. about what he is teaching or  Much other than he is headed to Rome  So we are seeing that Paul is trusting that God is in control and that God is leading him down this path Even though they have recently been shipwrecked that is where we pick up for today so they end up going through this now remember Paul said that An angel of the Lord had told him that they would all survive and so they all end up on this island.

Well, they're all brought safely through. They find out that they're on Malta and people are kind to them. Uh, you got to love this story about the snake, don't you? Uh, it just seems rather random, like Paul's gathering wood. Why are we hearing that Paul's gathering wood? And then, ah, we get to the big part of the story.

He's bit by a snake. But no harm comes to him.  What are we meant to see here? Is that is it's that Paul is being guided by god He is kept safe. He is going to end up at his destination Now that doesn't mean that something bad isn't going to happen to Paul. He's not going to show up in Rome, speak to Caesar, and  Caesar is going to come to faith. Then Paul is going to be put in the place of Caesar or put in a high position in the government. That's how you and I would imagine it.

We would imagine Paul if he survives a snake bite. He's going to survive what is coming up next, right? But that doesn't mean that that's the case. God has a plan for Paul, and he is ordaining that it happens. Now, isn't it amazing that what happened here?  Now, remember to say that this man is a murderer isn't kind of out of nowhere.

Remember, this is a group of people who are taken prisoner. They're seeing the centurions and the guards.  So, it's not a weird accusation to call him a murderer. Maybe there was some sort of custom about snake biting people, chances are it came from him being a part of a prisoner group here and having the guards with him but anyway, what an opportunity that this gives Paul an opportunity to share Jesus to heal this Publius's father.

How amazing is it that that now not only do they have the opportunity to share the gospel, but they also have the opportunity to have safe places to stay while they are on this island as we see they are here three whole months Well, eventually this ends up passing, and so they take off, they put in a Syracuse, they  go all these different directions,  they end up and they find brothers and sisters in Christ wherever they end up here.

They stay with them for seven days, and then they come to Rome and they're greeted by the brothers there, and Paul thanks God for them and he takes courage.  Isn't that an interesting statement? Paul thanks God for them. He, he needs support. Of his brothers. He needs the support of the people of God, even though he knows that this is what god would have him do He needs support. He knows that God is working all things together for good to have the brothers to have the Christian family Building him up is a blessing to him.

So, as we once again think about this passage there There's not much here for us once again is there, I mean there's a ton of stuff to talk about but what do you and I take into the world today from this? Well, I think one of the things that we need to remember, is that the place that we can find our greatest comfort to help us take courage is in the community of faith.

When we're going through difficult things, it's not meant that we hide our difficulties and our troubles from our brothers and sisters in Christ. In fact, the exact opposite is meant to happen. We're to share one another's burdens. And look at what this does for Paul. He gives thanks to God. He glorifies God.

He also has courage and he's able to face what is before him. So as we face the difficulties of our lives in the coming day, in the coming weeks, in the coming months, coming years, may we have in mind that we need to share our burdens with our brothers and sisters and build one another up in faith.