Acts Lesson 28 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-mail: [email protected] Introduction: In Chapter 27, Paul and his fellow crew members faced the horrible storm Euroclydon which threatened the lives of every one aboard the ship. But the angel of the Lord came to Paul, and he told the captain and the men that all of them would be delivered if they all stayed in the ship. They did so, and the ship ran aground and came apart as we closed last week. Those that could swim swam to shore, while those who could not got on boards of the ship and floated in. All 276 men escaped to the island of Melita. That is where we pick up this week as we conclude our study on the book of Acts. The final chapter of Acts details the remaining portion of Paul’s journey to Rome. Included is a brief description of Paul’s ministry in Rome while he awaited his hearing before the emperor. I. Landing on Melita Acts 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. Acts 28:2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. The island upon which the ship ran to ground and began to break up is noted here as Melita. Geographically, Malta, a small island between Sicily and north Africa. The reference “barbarous people” is an expression of that era in which all non-Greek speaking cultures were referred to. The were no doubt secluded and may have seemed strange to the ship’s crew and passengers. It is thought the Maltese people were originally Phoenicians whose native language was Punic (North African). In any event, they were hospitable to the survivors of the ship that wrecked on their island. It obviously was still winter. The persistent rain and northerly winds made the damp conditions quite miserable. The islanders helped the survivors simply by building a fire allowing them to warm themselves and dry out. Continue Reading in PDF: ![]()
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Acts Chapter 15 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-mail: [email protected] Introduction: In Chapter 14, we saw Paul and Barnabas complete the work that they set out to do on their missionary journey. At the end of the chapter, they returned to their home church and reported what God had accomplished in their efforts. This week we see some men coming in from Judea and attempting to teach false doctrine concerning salvation. The first portion of Acts chapter 15 presents a major crisis which was coming to a head in the early church. The question at hand was whether Judaism, its rituals, rites, and ceremonial-ism should have any part in the early church and if so to what extent. A church council was convened in Jerusalem to deal with these matters. The leaders of the local New Testament Churches met to discuss the controversy. The latter portion of the chapter deals with the council at Jerusalem. It concludes with the churches, by acclamation, agreeing to send a delegation out with a letter clarifying the controversy. At the end of the chapter is the historic parting of the ways between Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Silas begin the second missionary journey. I. Men from Judea come to church in Antioch Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Word reached the church at Jerusalem how the gospel had not only flourished among the gentiles at Antioch, but also continued through the missionary work of Paul and Barnabas. It is noteworthy that Paul and Barnabas did not report to the church at Jerusalem upon their return from their missionary journey. Though the church at Antioch likely had no pretense of becoming the leader of the churches, perhaps some in the Jerusalem church were nervous seeing that it might. It would seem that a question was looming, particularly for those in Judaea. Was Christianity to become primarily a gentile movement with some Jewish believers? Or would it remain as it originally had been constituted as a Jewish movement with a few gentile believers? It is clear there was a distinct party within the Jerusalem church who thought the latter. Recall the suspicion and reluctance of many in the Jerusalem church to accept the preaching of the gospel to the gentiles at Cornelius’ household at Caesarea. In Acts 11:2, reference is made to “they that were of the circumcision” contending with Peter on the matter. In chapter 15, this same party is referred to as “Pharisees which believed” (verse 5). These were people in the early church who evidently had been Pharisees prior to their conversion to Christ. They maintained that believers ought still follow the Jewish mandates detailed in the Law of Moses. Notable amongst those commands was that all Jewish men were to be circumcised. Certain representatives of this segment of the Jerusalem church traveled to the church at Antioch and taught, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Continue Reading in PDF: ![]()
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