Welcome to Rome
ACTS 28: 1-31 (July 11)
Today we resume where the boat landed on Gilligan's Island (I mean, Malta). This was no "3-hour tour" gone awry. This was the result of weeks at sea. There was no Ginger or Maryann, but the people of the island greeted them warmly (with a fire).
Paul was adding sticks to the fire when a poisonous snake bit his hand. As the snake hung from his hand, the people watched and said amongst themselves, "A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live."
Paul just shook that snake right off his hand and into the fire, with no swelling, bleeding, or pain to follow. After realizing there was no injury to Paul, the people changed their tune and decided he was a God. (Obviously the Professor wasn't on board, or he would have logically explained this situation.)
The chief official of the island lived on an estate near where the group came ashore. He was a Gentile by the name of Publius. They stayed with him for three days, and he was a good host. During that time, his father became ill. Paul prayed with him and layed his hands on him, and "TA-DA!" ... the man was healed!
Now what do you think happened next? Yep! When everyone heard about that healing, they brought other sick people to be healed. For the next three months, Paul healed the sick, and grew in popularity with the people. They showered him with gifts ... everything they would need for the rest of the trip.
Another ship, an Alexandrian ship, had spent the winter there and was ready to set sail. This ship had the Twin Brothers, Castor and Pollux, as its figurehead. Now, if you don't know much about Castor and Pollux, they were twin half-brothers in Greek and Roman mythology. They had the same mother (Leda), yet different fathers. Tyndareus (King of Sparta) was the father of Castor and Zeus-Jupiter was the father of Pollux.
These twin half-brothers were a result of heteropaternal superfecundation. WHAT???? Let me explain ... this is the term used for the fertilization of two or more ova from the same cycle by sperm from separate acts of intercourse, which leads to twin babies from two separate biological fathers. (You are welcome for today's education!!) I'm not quite sure what my thoughts are about Leda at the moment ... I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
After a few stops aboard the ship, they landed in Puteoli. There were believers there that invited them to spend the week with them. Other brothers and sisters in Rome heard about their arrival and met them at the Forum, while others joined them at The Three Taverns.
The Forum was at the center of the ancient city of Rome and the location of important religious, political, and social activities. (No NBA basketball games there). For centuries it was the site of triumphal processions and elections, public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches. It's ruins still stand today.
The Three Taverns was a place on the ancient Appian Way about 31 miles from Rome. It was designed for the reception of travelers. By seeing the show of respect from these believers in meeting him there, Paul was greatly encouraged.
Arriving in Rome, Paul was allowed to rent his own cottage, guarded by a soldier. After three days, he called the local Jewish leaders together and gave them a recap of why he was there, what he had been accused of, what his beliefs were, and spoke of his innocence.
The leaders were curious to hear his beliefs because the only thing they knew about what he was teaching was that it was denounced everywhere. And we know Paul...he was happy to oblige.
From morning to evening he spoke to them about Jesus, using Scripture, the law of Moses, and the books of the prophets to persuade them. Some were persuaded. Others were not. They argued back and forth and finally left with this final word from Paul:
"The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, "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. 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.'"
Paul lived in Rome, paying his own way, for the next two years. He welcomed anyone who wanted to visit. He continued to boldly proclaim the Kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ with no rebuttal from anyone.
It was during this time he wrote his Prison Letters, the letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians. After the two years had passed (the time in which they could hold him), he was released. It is believed that he wrote 1 Timonthy and Titus while traveling to Spain and many other places during his fourth mission, which would be the last taste of freedom for Paul.
Paul's life was no "3-hour tour". He didn't wash ashore with some beautiful ladies, an elderly couple, and a really smart guy. There were no comical activities, or silly circumstances for him to get himself out of.
His life was serious, it was scary, and it was very purposefully focused on Jesus. He was bold in his convictions and true to his calling. Just reading through the book of Acts makes me want to be more like him.
How true to our calling are we when adversity comes our way? When people mock us? When death stares us in the face?
May we all live boldly in our faith, proclaiming it whenever we can, and walking in the assurance that no matter what life brings us, we walk with the King of Kings.