Acts 28
Paul bitten by a viper bite so is then assumed a murderer
Acts 28:3-4 (KJV), “3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.”
God is with Paul and avoids any injury and then presumed a god
Acts 28:5-6 (KJV), “5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”
Paul performs miracles while on Malta
Acts 28:8-9 (KJV), “8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed.”
Prisoners delivered to the captain of the guard except Paul
Acts 28:16 (KJV), “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.”
Ever since Isaiah and now with Paul, the Jews refused to accept what has been proved
Isaiah 6:9 (KJV), “And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.”
Jeremiah 5:21 (KJV), “Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not.”
Ezekiel 12:2 (KJV), “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.”
Acts 28:26-27 (KJV), “26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 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.”
The book of Acts ends with…
Acts 28:30-31 (KJV), “30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
The book of Acts
The book of Acts was written to provide a history of the early church. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Acts records the apostles being Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding world. The book of Acts sheds light on the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our Counselor. Reading the book of Acts, we are enlightened and encouraged by the power of the gospel as it spread throughout the world and transformed lives. Many miracles were performed during this time by the apostles to validate their message. The book of Acts covers the transitional time between the ascension of Christ and the completion of the New Testament canon, and the apostolic miracles were God’s means of authenticating His message through the men who penned the Bible.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV), “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
PHILEMON
Philemon was a first-century Christian and a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home, most likely in Colossae. His name means “affectionate” in Greek, and, from all we know about Philemon, he lived up to his name. Paul had led Philemon to faith on one of his visits to Asia Minor and had stayed in Philemon’s home when in that region. The only mention of Philemon in the Bible is in the book by that name. The book of Philemon is a personal letter from the apostle Paul to his friend Philemon whom he calls a “dear friend and fellow worker”.
When/Where
The Epistle to Philemon was composed around AD 57–62 by Paul while in prison at Caesarea Maritima (early date) or more likely from Rome (later date) in conjunction with the composition of Colossians.
Philemon 1
Philemon 1:1-2 (KJV), “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer. 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house.”
Apphia increasing, a female Christian at Colosse, supposed by some to have been the wife of Philemon. Many believe Archippus to have been the son of Philemon and Apphia, close friends of Paul’s.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
Philemon 4-7 (KJV), “4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”
Who was Onesimus?
Paul uses a play on words when he refers to Onesimus in verse 11: “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.” The name Onesimus means “helpful,” “useful,” or “profitable.” It was a common name for slaves in that day. Before salvation, Onesimus had been useless or unprofitable to Philemon, but now he had become immensely beneficial to both his master and to Paul. As a believer in Jesus Christ, Onesimus lived up to his name.
Philemon 11 (KJV), “Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.”
Most believe Onesimus was saved while Paul was imprisoned in Rome
Philemon 10 (KJV), “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds.”
It is not certain if Onesimus actually fled from Philemon to seek out Paul in Rome but Paul sent him back
Philemon 15 (KJV), “For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever.”
Philemon 12-14 (KJV), “12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.”
Farewell from Paul
Philemon 23-24 (KJV), “23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.”
Colossians 4:10 (KJV), “Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him.”
One important lesson we can glean from Aristarchus is that of loyalty and perseverance. He understood the gospel message as preached by Paul.
Jeremiah 4
God appeals to Israel to repent
Jeremiah 4:1-2 (KJV), “If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. 2 And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”
God appeals to Judah and Jerusalem to repent
Jeremiah 4:3-4 (KJV), “3 For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.”
God warns Judah and Jerusalem, through Jeremiah, of the coming destruction
Jeremiah 4:5-6 (KJV), “5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. 6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.”
God cannot deceive
Jeremiah 4:10 (KJV), “Then said I, Ah, Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.”
[1] “The prophet’s complaint of the people’s being deceived, It is expressed strangely, as we read it: Ah! Lord God, surely thou hast greatly deceived this people, saying, You shall have peace. We are sure that God deceives none. Let no man say, when he is tempted or deluded, that God has tempted or deluded him. But, 1. The people deceived themselves with the promises that God had made in general of his favour to that nation, and the many peculiar privileges with which they were dignified, building upon them, though they took no care to perform the conditions on which the accomplishment of those promises and the continuance of those privileges did depend; and they had no regard to the threatenings which in the law were set over-against those promises. Thus they cheated themselves and then wickedly complained that God had cheated them. 2. The false prophets deceived them with promises of peace, which they made them in God’s name. If God had sent them, he had indeed greatly deceived the people, but he had not. It was the people’s fault that they gave them credit; and here also they deceived themselves.” (Henry)
Proverbs 18 (read)
Proverbs 18:13 (KJV), “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
Ezekiel 2
God speaks to Ezekiel once more
Ezekiel 2:1-4 (KJV), “And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. 2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. 4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.”
Brown-Driver-Briggs – j. often plural with name of ancestor, people, land, or city, to denote descendants, inhabitants, membership in a nation or family, etc.
With no doubt, God has sent a prophet among the people
Ezekiel 2:5 (KJV), “And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.”
Ezekiel 2:8-10 (KJV), “8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. 9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; 10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.”
Revelation 10:9 (KJV), “And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.”
Revelation 5:1-5 (KJV), “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to lose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to lose the seven seals thereof.”
[1] Matthew Henry
Grow in the Word of the Lord 