DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/18

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                       PART XXVIII - V

"I, Paul, have finally arrived in Rome.. It has taken quite some time before I finally got here.... In fact, it has been a few years since the Lord spoke to me that I was to testify about Him in Rome.... At that time the Lord did not give me the exact date when I would be arriving in Rome... And that was just as well.... I have been to a number of places since He appeared to me to tell me my next assignment was Rome.... I first of all spent time in Caesarea.... I was there for over two years.... But these years were not wasted... For during that time I had opportunity to preach the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to a number of important people.... Such as Governor Felix... Governor Festus... King Agrippa and his wife Bernice... As well as many other people who were present...After that time I and a group of other prisoners were put on a ship... That ship was supposed to take us to Rome....That ship, first of all, took us to Myra....Once in Myra, we were put on another ship.... That ship was supposed to take us to Phoenix....However, due to a raging storm that lasted for days, we never made it to Phoenix.... We eventually ended up on the island of Malta...But our ship was totally destroyed...We then spent three months at Malta before boarding another ship... But I was not disheartened by this so-called detour...For I believed that the Lord had a reason for me to be at Malta... I did not have to wait long after my arrival to find out the reason for this delay... For soon after my arrival I was given opportunity to pray for the healing of the father of the chief official of the island.... That opened the door for me to preach to many people on the island....And I saw many people saved, healed and delivered from demonic spirits.... It is clear to me that God cares about Governor Felix... And Governor Festus.... And King Agrippa and his wife Bernice....But He cares as much about the people living on the island of Malta... And He cares about the people living in Rome... That is why I am here now... My living conditions are very good.... For I have been given a house to live in.... However, I am not free to go out and about.... So I invited the leaders of the Jewish Community to meet with me at my home.... They came earlier today... I decided I needed to let them know that I am innocent of any crime.... Even though I was arrested in Jerusalem.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Paul finally arrives in Rome.....

                          ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                           PART XXVIII - V

So eventually Paul arrives in Rome from Malta as you can read in Acts 28:16

When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Paul is placed under house arrest so he cannot go out freely but he is able to have people come and see him. The first guests he invites to his home are the leaders of the Jewish community as you can read in Acts 8:17

Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brother, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans."

Paul does not wait and see how things develop in Rome but three days after his arrival in Rome, he takes the initiative by inviting the leaders of the Jewish community to his home to discuss with them what has happened to him in Jerusalem.

Read Part Nineteen HERE

                     

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/17

  

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                  PART XXVIII - IV

"I, Paul, and all those who with me had arrived on the island of Malta, have greatly enjoyed the people's hospitality... It was wonderful to be able to minister among them God's love...We have seen many people come to faith in Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour....And we have seen many people healed and delivered from demonic influences.... We have really felt at home with these precious people... They have become our family in the Lord...However, we knew that the time would eventually come for us to leave... That day happened three months after our arrival in Malta.... The Roman Centurion, who is in charge of us, found another Alexandrian ship that could take us to Italy.. It was then time to say goodbye to our special friends in Malta....They knew that we were in need of supplies before boarding so they very kindly provided us with all that we would need for the journey...We then said our goodbyes.... It was hard to do so....I know that I may not see them again here on earth....But I will see them in heaven one day.... And so 176 of us went on board that ship... And we began our journey to Rome."...Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's departure from Malta for Rome after a three-months stay at that island....

                          ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                               PART XXVIII - IV

Even though God is using Paul to minister His love and care to the people in Malta, Paul knows that he is meant to go to Rome one day. The time for his and the other people's departure for Rome comes three months after their arrival in Malta. By then the islanders are so grateful to Paul that they are more than willing to help him and the other 275 people to get ready to sail once again as you can read in Acts 28:10

They honoured us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies needed.

Another ship that is able to take them to Rome has been found as you can read in Acts 28:22

After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in he island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figure head of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.

After having said their goodbyes, they begin their journey to Rome.

Read Part Eighteen HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/16

 Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                      PART XVIII - III

"I, Paul, and all those who have travelled with me on board the ship that was supposed to take us from Myra to Phoenix have now landed on an island called Malta.... I know that I am supposed to be in Rome.... However, I am now in Malta... I know too that our ship has completely been destroyed... So it cannot be repaired to take us to Rome at a later date... Nevertheless I am at ease.... It may look like being here is not part of God's plan for my life.... It may look like my life has taken a detour...But I am convinced that being here in Malta is part of God's plan for me.... I am sure He has a purpose for me being here....I believe too that once God's purpose for me being here on this island called Malta is fulfilled I will not remain here... Instead, I will leave for Rome...As a matter of fact, I have just been invited to stay at the home of the chief official of the island... A man named Publius....That is extremely kind of him....He mentioned to me that his father is not well...I have faith that the Lord will heal him through my prayers....And I believe that once the people on this island hear of his healing many will come forward for ministry.... For God loves the people on this little island and wants them to know His love and care.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's minstry on the island of Malta.

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                       PART XVIII - III

After Paul and those who together with him had to leave the stranded ship, have warmed themselves at the fire, he is invited to stay at the home of the chief official, a man named Publius. This man's father is very ill so Paul prays for him. That opens the door for further ministry for him on Malta as you can read in Acts 28:7-9

There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomes us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.

Paul understands that this delay to his arrival in Rome has been allowed by God so that he can minister to the people in Malta by praying for their healing and by preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to them. He knows that his days are in God's hands and that at the right time, meaning at God's time, he will arrive in Rome.

Read Part Seventeen HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/15

 Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                 PART XXVIII - II                                                                                                                                                                                                     
"I, Paul, so appreciate the kindness of the people who welcomed us when we got to the shore of Malta.... They specially built a fire for us so we could warm ourselves.... I decided to help them a little by carrying some brushwood to the fire and putting it on the fire.... While doing so I noticed a viper coming out from the wood... It moved so quickly that I could not prevent it from biting me.... As soon as it had bitten me I was able to shake it off.... It then fell into the fire... I carried on putting more brushwood on the fire.... I noticed that people were looking at me and talking to each other.. In fact, they kept watching me... Were they expecting something to happen to me?... I suddenly realised they were expecting me to swell up and fall dead... But that did not happen.... For God has other plans for me... He has told me that I am to go to Rome to testify about Him.. He is, therefore, not allowing me to die at this time... I wonder if the people think that I am not a criminal but a god because I am still alive...The trust is that I am neither a criminal nor a god but that I am a bond slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.".... Please read the attached story when you will learn how the people on the island of Malta reacted when they saw Paul being bit by a viper...

 

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                         PART XVIII - II 

Paul, who with all the other prisoners, as well as the sailors and soldiers, had safely arrived on the island of Malta, was trying to give the islanders a hand by keeping the fire they had build, going. However, he then ended up in trouble by being bitten by a viper. The islanders, who, no doubt, were pleased with his help then became susicous of him for it looks like justice was finally catching up with him. But, as they continued to watch Paul they noticed that he simply shook the viper off his hand and carried on putting wood on the fire. Did that mean he was, in fact, a god, since he had no side effects from the bite whatsoever as you can read in Acts 28:4-6

When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live."But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing ususual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

There is truly nothing new under the sun: people were fickle then and people are fickle today....   

Read Part Sixteen HERE                                                                                                                                                               

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/14

 Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                     PART XXVIII - l

"I, Paul, am so thankful to God for all the 276 people on board the ship that was supposed to take us from Myra to Phoenix, have now landed on an island called Malta.... Our ship has not made it.... It was completely destroyed... But all the people are safe.... Just as the angel had told me would happen.... A number of us swam to shore....Others, who could not swim, were able to get to shore by using planks or other pieces of the ship... We were, of course, very wet and cold....The weather is not helping because it is raining... However, the islanders have been very kind to us....They welcomed us in their midst... And prepared a fire for us... That way we could begin to dry up and become a little warmer than we have been a long time...I dried my clothes somewhat and warmed myself up a little... I then decided I should give the people a hand... I spotted a pile of brushwood... That would be perfect to keep the fire going... So I decided to put it on the fire... I wondered if I saw a viper inside the brushwood.... Perhaps I just imagined it... After all I was quite tired.... That is not too surprising ... For it has been a long and tiring journey....None of us have been able to sleep very well for quite some time now.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the islanders of Malta were all very welcoming to Paul and the other prisoners...

                           ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                               PART XXVIII - I

As promised by God all the 276 people on board the ship, that was supposed to take Paul and all those with him from Myra to Phoenix, safely reach land. They then discover that they have arrived on an island called Malta as you can read in Acts 28:1

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.

Unfortunately, the weather is not very pleasant for it is raining but, thankfully, the people living on the island are extremely welcoming as you can read in Acts 28:2

The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.

No doubt, all the prisoners as well as the soldiers and the sailors appreciate the kindness shown by the islanders, especially because everyone's clothes are thoroughly wet having just swum to the shore. As they are warming themselves on the fire and drying themselve up, something happens to Paul as you can read in Acts 28:3

Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 

Paul is trying to be helpful but then a issue arises, in the form of a viper, that he may not have been prepared for. 

Read Part Fifteen HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/13

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                  PART XXVII - XIII

"The ship that I, Paul, and those with me had struck a sandbar.... We all knew it meant that the ship was a lost cause...It was not going anywhere....Not to Phoenix, where it was supposed to go.... Or anywhere else for that matter...It was beyond repair... I looked at the soldiers... For they seemed to be planning something... Were they thinking of killing all the prisoners.... Myself included....I began to think that was exactly what they were planning to do... Because they did not want anyone of us to escape... But I knew God had told me that I am to testify in Rome...Moreover, God had promised me the life of everyone aboard the ship... So I was confident that whatever they plans might be... They would not succeed...I quetly watched to see how God was going to prevent the killings.... I then noticed the Centurion speaking in a very strong tone to the soldiers under his command.... I could not hear what he was saying to them... But I knew he was telling them off for their plans... God was using him to protect us all....The Centurion then turned to us... And he told us what to do in order to safely arrive on dry land... Those who could swim were to go first...  Those who could not swim were to get to dry land using planks of pieces of the ship... We all arrived safely... It seems we have arrived on an island called Malta."... Please read the typed out attachment when we learn that Paul and everyone else all swam to safety to an island called Malta....

 

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          PART XXVII - XIII

This time the soldiers aboard the ship that is supposed to take Paul and all those with him from Myra to Phoenix, decide to take things into their own hands, despite what they know Paul has said about everyone being saved as you can read in Acts 27:42

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.

To be honest, these prisoners had nowhere really to escape to. But one of these prisoners is Paul, who has to go to Rome to testify. So God used the Centurion to prevent that from happening as you can read in Acts 27:43a

But the Centurion wanted to save Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan.

We once again see the Centurion in charge of the situation. And he is the one who makes the decision as to how everyne is to get to land safely as you can read in Acts 27:43b -44

He ordered those who could swim to get overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached the land in safety

As Paul has told them, everyone will be safe. That is what has happened; all 276 people on board of that Alexandrian ship have safely arrived on an island called Malta. But the ship has not survived the storm just as the angel has told Paul.

Read Part Fourteen HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/12

  

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                     PART XXVII - XII

"I, Paul, looked at the faces of the sailors who had tried to lower the lifeboat from the ship that was supposed to take all of us from Myra to Phoenix... I could see disappointment that they had been prevented from escaping... However, their looks of disappointment changed into something more hopeful as soon as daylight came... The reason they began to look  more hopeful was because they spotted land... Not only did they see land... They saw a bay with a sandy beach... So they decided to try and run the ship aground.... They did not know exactly where they were... But that did not matter... The main thing was that they saw land... They carefully manoevred the ship.... So it would not be damaged... However, the ship struck a sandbar... That was the end of the ship.... And they knew it... I was not surprised by this event... For the angel had told me that the ship would be destroyed... I have a sense, though, that the pieces of wood may well be useful for us."...Pease read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the sailors aboard the ship spot land and try to safely run the ship aground...

  

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACT

                                                          PART XXVII - XII

In the early morning the sailors aboard the ship, that is supposed to take Paul and all those with him from Myra to Phoenix, spot land and they decided to run the ship aground near as beach as you can read  in Acts 27:39

When daylight came, they did not recognise the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

However, the ship struck a sandbar, which caused it to be damaged beyond repair as we can know from Acts 27:41

But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

 The ship was indeed no longer sea worthy as the angel had already told Paul would be the case. 

Read Part Thirteen HERE

 

                                        

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/11

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART XVII - XI

"I, Paul, had eaten something.... That was the sign for everyone else aboard the ship that was supposed to take us from Myra to Phoenix to eat something as well.... All 276 of us felt a little better after we had eaten something.... And no wonder..... For we had not had anything to eat for the last fourteen days... We ended up eating as much as we wanted... The food tasted wonderful... It was then time to get some work done... We realised that the ship needed to be made lighter still... The only way to do that was to throw more cargo overboard... So we threw the grain into the sea... It was not what we wanted to do.... But we had no choice.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that more cargo is thrown overboard after the people have finally eaten some food....

                 ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                               PART XXVII - XI

Seeing Paul eat, gave the others on board the ship that is to take them from Myra to Phoenix the courage to eat as well as you can read in Acts 27:36

They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.

After everyone on board has eaten some food they are ready for some further activities as you can read in Acts 27:37-38

Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing grain into the sea.

Even though they have already thrown cargo overboard, they obviously have kept part of the cargo. But it is time for that cargo to go overboard as well. And Paul has already said that the ship will be lost. So there is no point in hanging on to that cargo, no matter how valuable it may be.

Read Part Twelve HERE

DESTINATION ROME VIA MALTA: A CHALLENGING SEA JOURNEY P/10

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART XXVII - X                                                                 

 "I, Paul, looked at the people aboard the ship that was supposed to take us from Myra to Phoenix... They looked so thin...And that was not surprising... For we had not eaten anything for the last fourteen days... It was time to have something to eat....That would give us the strength we needed to deal with what was yet to come... So I urged them to have something to eat... I may have been just one of the prisoners.... But at that moment I was in charge of the ship... And everyone knew it.... They were all ready to eat something... I knew too that I should be the first one to eat something... For that would encourage all the others to do the same.... So I took a piece of bread... I then thanked God in front of everyone for having kept us alive.... I then ate.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Paul encouraged everyone aboard the ship to eat something....

 

                     ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                           PART XXVII - X 

Paul next encourages everyone on board the ship that is to take them from Myra to Phoenix to have something to eat to give them strength for what is yet to come as you can read in Acts 27:33-34

Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food - you haven't eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head."

It is very clear who is in charge of the ship: it is Paul.The Centurion may have been the one who originally was in charge of this company of prisoners. But the situation has drastically changed and everyone knows it. So when Paul directs them to eat they look to him if he will eat something himself, which he does as you can read in Acts 27:35

After he had said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of the all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

Paul knows he needs to give the example to eat for others to follow so they will then be able to do what is required of them.

Read Part Eleven HERE