Leslie M. John
The brethren at Puteoli who heard of Paul and others went to meet them at cities called ‘Appii forum’ and ‘The three taverns’. Paul thanked God because he was very near to Rome and he took courage. On their arrival at Rome the Centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain guard but the Centurion with the help of a soldier took care of Paul. (Acts 28:15-16)
It was Paul’s opportunity, then, to speak to the Christians at Rome and defend
his position. Paul spoke to the men and brethren at Rome that he was innocent of the charges that were leveled against him. He did neither mislead nor did work against the customs of the fathers, yet he was imprisoned and brought from Jerusalem to Rome to stand before Caesar. Earlier he was examined of the
charges leveled against him and they found that he did nothing that deserved
death penalty. Jews laid grievous complaints against Paul, but they could not
prove. But when Jews spoke against him he was constrained to appeal to Caesar. Festus, willing to show favor to Jews asked Paul if he would like to go to Jerusalem for trial but Paul asked that he may be sent to stand at Caesar’s judgment seat.(Acts 25:7-12)
Paul was a Roman citizen, a Pharisee, Hebrew of Hebrews, a Jew by birth of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). Earlier Paul was arrested at Jerusalem because he was proclaiming that Jesus was the Son of God. Jews thought Paul was speaking blasphemy. Paul also taught that circumcision was not required for salvation. Jews took serious exceptions to his teachings. Paul was held prisoner for two years at Caesarea.
“But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.” (Acts 24:27)
Paul did not mean to offend Jews nor accuse them because of their false allegations leading to his apprehension but he was defending himself that he did nothing that deserved punishment. At Rome Paul called Jews to let them know of these facts.
Paul’s speech was filled with hope for the disturbed Israel and said that he was bound in chains for this reason. But when they heard of Paul’s speech they said that they did not receive any letter from Judea or heard any word about Paul from any of the brethren. Yet, they desired to hear from Paul about the entire situation and about the Jews of whom there was a bad talk all over.
The Jews there set apart a day for Paul to speak and expound of the matters that were of much concern to them and their sect. This was obviously very interesting situation and many gathered to listen to Paul. Making use of the opportunity he was given, Paul spoke elaborately about Jesus from out of the Law of Moses, and out of the prophets from morning till evening. As it usually happens everywhere, even now, some believed Paul’s exposition and some did not believe. The Jews did not agree with one another among themselves and some of them did not believe what Paul spoke of Jesus.
Seeing that many Jews leaving the place where he was speaking about Jesus,
he reminded of the prophesy that Isaiah spoke to the fathers that “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 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” Acts 28:26,27
The prophesy was in Isaiah 6:9-10 which reads as “And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but
perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy,
and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed”
Lord Jesus Christ quoted this prophesy earlier to Jews as we read in Matthew
13:14
“ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive”
“But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he
spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the
Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias
said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they
should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be
converted, and I should heal them” (John 12:37-40)
Paul was upset at this point of time and said that the “salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and they will hear it”.
The Jews departed and reasoned among themselves. Paul was at Rome for two
whole years in his hired house, and spoke of the kingdom of God to all those
who visited him at his home. He taught them about Lord Jesus Christ with
boldness and no man forbad him from speaking about Jesus.
Acts Chapter 28 or any other scripture does not give more details of Paul’s ministry afterwards or as to what happened to his life. Secular history says that he died as a martyr for Christ.
There are few points that need our attention here. When Paul said that
salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles was it the first time that
Gentiles heard of Lord Jesus Christ either from others or from Paul? No,
Peter spoke of Lord Jesus Christ to Cornelius as we read in Acts Chapter 10.
Was Cornelius Jew or Circumcised? No, Cornelius was not a Jew and he was not
circumcised to be considered as a Proselyte. Was he grafted into Jews based
on Paul’s exposition that we read in Romans Chapter 11 Yes, but his grafting into the Natural branches was not anything special or of more importance than any other Gentile! All Gentiles who are considered as grafted based on the exposition of Romans Chapter 11 are just as equal in status as we are as “One New Man” as Cornelius was. Nothing in the scriptures suggest that the grafting of Gentiles in Acts period was of extra importance or of less importance than that of those Gentiles who are saved afer the Acts perid.
“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. ” (Acts 11:26)
When Jews rejected Paul’s preaching as we read in Acts Chapter 13 the
Gentiles requested him that the word of God may be preached to them. On the
next Sabbath Paul spoke to the Gentiles and they heard the word of God. Jews
took objection to Paul’s preaching but Paul and Barnabas were bold enough to speak about Jesus and that led to Jews getting envy of Paul and contradicted him. When there was a difference of opinion among Jews and religious proselyets Paul and Barnabas spoke to them and persuaded them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43).
Paul said to them that it was necessary that the word of God be spoken to them first and then to Gentiles and he did that exactly as Jesus commanded him to do. Some say that all these Gentiles saved during the Acts period were the descendants of Jacob, but there is no convincing evidence to show that they were all descendants of Jacob.
“For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:47)
Earlier, Jesus had compassion on Centurion as we read in Matthew Chapter 8,
and on Canaanite woman as we read in Matthew Chapter 15. No doubt Jesus came to seek the lost sheep of Israel but his coming was not with absolute negligence toward Gentiles. Jesus resisted his disciples going in the way of Gentiles as we read in Matthew Chapter 10, yet his concern for Gentiles was not with absolute negligence toward them, otherwise, the most familiar verse John 3:16 would have been of no consequence.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)