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ACTS 28
Sometimes heathens were kinder to God's people than the religious crowd was. Here we see I believe another act of God's kindness in preparing these people to receive Paul and his company.
Here we see the age old misconception that all bad that happens is because of someone's sin. Sin caused the original disease to come upon all flesh but because it is in the genes, the environment and all around us, innocent people get sick as well, including babies. We live in a fallen world. It is just here for now as a result of the fall of Adam until Christ completely removes the curse at a future time of His return. The curse of sin causing a soul to be lost is already broken when we believe in Jesus Christ and the death of these temporary bodies will still occur until His return but the fear of death is gone for those that trust in the Lord for their salvation. I believe this instance shows us the true meaning of Mark 16:18. Paul being in the will of God and full of the spirit was able by the power of God to shake off the viper and not be harmed. I do not believe the "they shall take up serpents" means that we are to put on a sideshow and purposely get poisonous snakes to show off any power. God's gifts are always given to confirm the truth of the gospel being preached by signs and wonders which follow those that believe. Christ gets all glory and all is done to bring people to Christ. It is never to exalt the messenger for we have nothing that someone else who seeks God cannot receive.
This is the result of being in a place where God can use us through the power of the Holy Spirit. It takes faith, prayer and sometimes fasting to be in position to be subject to the will of God's spirit. This is not done in the flesh and by our own power or importance. It is a probability that the people on this island would not have believed the gospel if they didn't see signs such as these. This is probably why we hear of more miracles following believers who go among the heathen to preach rather than the more civilized countries. Where people are the most needy and the weakest, more of the power of God is needed and depended on. When we get high and mighty, educated and sophisticated, we start relying on ourselves rather than God.
Looks like by this time that Paul was granted much freedom to visit his brethren in the Lord and stay with them for a season. Paul probably could have escaped at any time and the centurion might have allowed him to do so but knowing Paul, that wasn't the way he worked. By allowing himself to be taken to Rome, he not only would preserve the lives of the soldiers but also he would be given an opportunity to preach before kings.
The officials in Jerusalem failed to send any legal papers so he could have been released legally but they too desired to hear what Paul had to say. There are different kind of hearers. Some are stubborn and refuse to hear. Some want to hear in order to accuse them of wrongdoing. Some want to hear because of curiosity. Some want to hear because they like to gain knowledge that they can show themselves to be learned on a particular matter and then some want to hear in order to receive the truth.
The gospel can be preached just using the Old Testament.
Nothing has changed. Today, some believe and some do not believe.
That the majority of the Jews would not believe as a nation was prophesied back in Isaiah. That is why the nation ceased to exist for a little over 2000 years. In these last days Israel is a nation once again. The time of the Gentiles is drawing to a close and the gospel will return to the Jews. The Gentiles in many places are returning back to their pagan roots and rejecting the gospel. We as individuals can choose to believe or reject Jesus Christ. We do not have to follow the crowds and do what is popular. The way of the majority is usually wrong.
Choosing what is politically correct, what society deems as good, following the majority or the crowds is usually the total opposite from God's standards and God's word.
We see now that the word that the Lord spoke to Paul is coming to pass and he is teaching the Gentiles the word of God. God allowed Paul to have seasons where no one hindered him from preaching the gospel. We see by reading the book of Acts that there was much persecution for their teachings but there were times of rest from persecution so that they would not be overwhelmed by opposition and the gospel could spread.
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