Acts - Week 85

Week 85 Acts 28 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 28:13-15 

13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God. 

Luke continues to record the travels of Paul and his companions on their way to Rome. Rhegium was on the southern tip of Italy. A day later, at Puteoli, they met believers and spent a week with them. Two other groups traveled several miles to meet him at other locations. This fellowship with Christ-followers encouraged Paul and he was thankful to God. 

REFLECT 

Have you had the experience of meeting other believers when you were in a strange place? How did that make you feel? 

RESPOND 

Read 1 John 1:2-4 to see what the apostle wrote about fellowship and the different relationships it involves. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 28:16-18 

16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 

Even though Paul was guarded by a soldier he was allowed to live by himself. From there he called Jewish leaders to meet with him. He rehearsed what had happened to him and why he was in Rome. He told the Jewish leaders there was no cause for a death sentence and the Romans had even tried to release him. This must have made the leaders wonder why he was now in Rome.  

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes listened to a person’s testimony and wondered how it would turn out? Paul was telling his story point by point so the leaders would fully understand his situation. 

RESPOND 

Discuss with your disciple what it must have been like for Paul to have a guard with him at all times. Think of the witnessing opportunity this was for him. Have either of you been in situations, such as in a hospital, where someone was assigned to you and gave more opportunities to witness for Jesus? 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 28:19-22 

19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.” 21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.” 

Paul now explained to these Jewish leaders why he had to appeal to Caesar. He had asked them  to meet him so he could become acquainted with them. He also wanted to explain to them that he was a prisoner because he believed that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—had already come. The Jewish leaders had heard nothing from Jerusalem about this but wanted to hear more because they knew the way Paul represented was denounced everywhere.  

REFLECT 

Have you ever met someone who wanted to hear more about Jesus because no one had ever told them about Him? What a great opportunity this would be to share the gospel.  

RESPOND 

You and your disciple need to ask God to reveal some names of unsaved people with whom you could share the gospel. Do you know of any unsaved people? If not, discuss where you might go to begin to build a relationship with some.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 28:23-25 

23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 25 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, . . . 

A crowd gathered on the appointed day to hear what Paul had to say.  During an all-day meeting, he sought to persuade them from Scriptures they should have been acquainted with. Some believed; others completely rejected what he had to say. The group argued with each other, which caused Paul to tell them of what Isaiah had written.  

REFLECT 

Have you had someone so completely reject your message about Jesus you realized there was no longer a reason to talk with them? All that would be left for you to do is pray for them. 

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 13:57-58 to see what Jesus did not do because of the unbelief of people. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 28:26-31 

26 ‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. 27 For the hearts of these people are  hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ 

28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.” 30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. 

Paul quoted a passage from Isaiah to them. Because the Jews refused to hear the message, Paul was now turning to the Gentiles.  As the book of Acts concludes, the gospel had gone out to those in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the Gentiles as commanded in Acts 1:8. During Paul’s two years in Rome was likely the time he wrote the letters of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon.  

REFLECT 

What has God impressed on your heart from what you have learned from the book of Acts? 

RESPOND 

Did you and your disciple notice in the book of Acts there were no church denominations or clergy/lay person distinctions? There were just believers with changed lives who were passionate to tell the story of Jesus to others. Is this also your desire?