Skip to content Shipwreck to Salvation: Faith in Action in Acts 28 Oct 31 · 13 min ...more
Shipwreck to Salvation: Faith in Action in Acts 28
October 31, 2025 · 13 min
Discover how Paul transforms calamity into a beacon of hope, grounded in God's enduring favor.
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From Shipwreck to Hope: Paul's Journey in Acts 28 0:09 Good morning. Hook them to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning. As we look at the final chapter of the book of Acts. We look at chapter 28. Here's a question. How do you go from shipwrecked to snake0:20 bitten to being the source of hope for others? We're gonna see that in the apostle Paul today as we look at chapter 28 verse 20. For this reason, therefore, I have called for you to see you and speak with you because0:33 for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain. Now in this final chapter of acts, Paul finally makes his way to Rome where he will minister and share the gospel with relative0:44 freedom for a period of about 2 years in a rented house. Apparently, his accusers did not show up, so in the end, he was released to resume his ministry and will read later only to be rearrested,0:57 later. Now the first portion of this chapter that we're reading here today picks up where we left off in chapter 27 with the battered ship wrecking upon an island. Verse 1. Now when they1:08 had escaped, then they found out that the island was called Malta. And the native showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome because of the1:20 rain that was falling and because of the cold. Are you seeing a pattern? We saw this last time. Paul had been shown unusual con kindness by Julius the centurion and now by those1:32 living on the island. 2 thoughts here on what Luke writes. Number 1, god's favor transcends our circumstances. Right? We as we just read here in1:44 verse 20, Paul was bound for the hope of Israel. Now what was the hope of Israel? Well, the hope of Israel was the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. So he was bound in change for that hope that had been1:56 given back to Abraham. Now Paul faced all of the the challenges and the difficulties that he encountered to advance the gospel. But even2:07 in those difficulties, there was the evidence of god's favor, and that's true in our lives today. But here's the second point. You gotta be looking for it. Paul and his companions2:20 recognized and were grateful for God's favor seen through the kindness of others. As Paul would, soon write in his letter to the Ephesians, which he did during that 2 year2:31 imprisonment in Rome, chapter 5 verse 20, giving thanks always for all things to god the father in the name of the lord Jesus Christ. Now I'll2:43 confess, openly, not that I've arrived at this, but an attitude of gratitude, looking for the displays of god's favor through the kindness of2:55 other, even as your ship just wrecked, makes this journey we call life not only bearable, but enjoyable as well. Yes. God wants3:07 us. God wants you to enjoy the journey even when it appears to be going from bad to worse. Verse 3. Let's look at this. But when Paul had gathered a3:19 bundle of sticks remember, it was cold. It was raining. He was out there. You know, he had been given instructions, but now he was out there. It was a servant heart. He had a heart of a servant. He's out there gathering3:28 sticks and laid them on a fire, and a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. So when the native saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to 1 another, no doubt this man is a murderer3:39 whom though he had escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live. But he shook off the creature in the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would3:51 swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.4:03 So the islanders go from 1 extreme to the other. First, they thought, well, he's he got what he had coming. Then when he didn't fall over dead, they saw him as a god. It's another by the way, this4:15 is another example why we should never rely on public opinion for anything. Verse 7. In that region, there was an estate of a leading citizen of the island whose name was Publius,4:28 who received us and entertained us courteously courteously for 3 days. Again, we we see the gratitude in Luke's words. And it happened4:40 that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul went into him and prayed, and he laid hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those4:52 on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. So they honored us in many ways. And when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary. I mean, amazing, the favor of5:03 God, even upon Paul who was a prisoner. You know? And and and look at this. What an opportunity. Paul was not focused on what was behind him. He was focused on what was ahead, the5:15 opportunity to be used by God in the midst of personal loss and suffering. Now a few more observations, on this passage, which we might be prone to hurriedly pass5:27 through so that we can get to the destination of Rome. You know, oftentimes, especially man, I confess to this, we wanna get from point a to point b when really it's the in between that god has so much for5:39 us on the journey. So it it's it's it's important for us to see here how Paul goes from being shipwrecked to snake bitten to a source of hope for others. First, we5:51 see Paul's humility. I made reference to this. You know, for some, many people view humility as as weakness. They see a humble person as a pushover. Well, you know, from what I read in6:03 scripture, Paul is anything but weak. He is anything but a pushover, but he is humble. He went from taking charge and saving the lives of 276 people aboard the ship, picking up sticks to6:14 build a fire to warm the cold and shivering survivors. Then we see a viper aroused by the fire, springs out and bites the hand of Paul. Those who6:26 witness it saw it as an act of divine judgment upon a man who escaped the sea but would die by a snake bite. How does Paul respond? With anger? Oh,6:38 not something else. Shipwrecked, snake bitten. What's next? No. He did not react with fear. He did not react with anger. He6:50 responded with confidence in God. But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. Remember the promise that God had given him? Remember the Lord told him,7:02 you're going to Rome, and you're going to testify. He was hanging on to that promise. He knew. He had confidence in the word of God because he had a he had a testimony. And if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your7:13 savior, you have a testimony. And we need to, you know, we need to rekindle that understanding of what god has done in the past because what god has done before, he will do again. So how do you go from7:25 shipwrecked to snake bitten to a source of hope for others? Here it is. Paul's concern was for others. Instead of being ministered to after the shipwreck and bitten by a snake, he allowed god7:37 to use him to meet the needs of others, which had a multiplying effect. When our eyes are on ourselves and our our problems, we don't see God, and we lose our confidence in7:49 him. When we don't see God, we don't see the needs of others, and we miss tremendous opportunities to minister life and hope to those around us.8:01 So after 3 months, they were back on their way to Rome with a short stop, in, Putioli where Paul was met by fellow believers. And Luke records this, quote, when8:13 Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. That's a reflection of the power of fellowship when we come together with like minded believers, how that encourages us to continue on our8:25 journey. Verse 16. Now when he now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.8:37 Again, favor. God's favor. And it came to pass after 3 days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them, men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our8:48 people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go because there was no cause for putting me to death.9:00 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had done anything of which to accuse my nation. For this reason, therefore, I have called for you9:12 to see you and speak with you because for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain. Paul's purpose was to make Jesus9:24 known even at the price of chains. Verse 24, and some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. So when they did not agree9:36 among themselves, they departed after Paul had said 1 word. The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our father, saying, go to this people and say, hearing you will hear and shall9:48 not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive. For the hearts of this people have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes10:00 and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them. Therefore, let it be known to you that the salvation of god has been sent to the Gentiles, and10:12 they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. Then Paul dwelt 2 whole years in his own rented house and received all who came to him,10:23 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no 1 forbidding him. Again, we see what happens when we refuse to10:35 see, when we refuse to hear. Eventually, we come to a place that we cannot see, we cannot hear. That's true of nations. It's true of individuals. May our hearts remain pliable10:48 and sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. And I I pray as a nation that we will respond to the correction of the Lord, and we'll align ourselves with his word and his way.11:00 Next, we're gonna take up the, Paul's letters to the Ephesians, which he wrote, during this 2 year period. So looking forward to looking at the letters that Paul wrote from the prison, and we have a resource11:12 available for you. If you'd like to get that study guide, text letters, that's plural, to 6 7 7 4 2. Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for this book of Acts. It gives us, lord, insight and11:23 understanding into the the the beginning of the church, the foundation, and, lord, what the the early fathers did, what Paul and others and how they took forth the message.11:35 And, lord, it's an example for us today. And, lord, we know they faced opposition and difficulty, but they kept their eyes focused upon you. And so, father, I pray that we would do the same because I believe we're coming11:46 into a a a period of time as the as the church age comes to its fulfillment. We're gonna face similar challenges as it did at the beginning, and we need the same type of faith. We need the same power of the11:58 holy spirit to see the church advance as, lord, we anticipate your return. So, father, guide us, direct us, and use us for your kingdom and glory. If we pray this in Jesus'12:10 name, amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. And just a reminder that, tomorrow night, Saturday night, we'll have our first, of the month. The first Saturday of the month will be our bible study, and so we're12:21 gonna be looking at those prison letters, that Paul wrote. So you can join us on the Stand Firm app. Go to the Stand Firm app if you don't have it and download the, the Stand Firm app. You can join at 712:33 PM central time. Until next time, keep standing on the word.12:39 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you12:51 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 From Shipwreck to Hope: Paul's Journey in Acts 28
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