Sermon Tone Analysis

In a Nutshell

centers on bold proclamation as Paul finally reaches Rome after escaping a snake attack on Malta.

In Rome he defends and proclaims his gospel even as a prisoner.

We find the key verse at the very end of the chapter (and the book) and might literally translate it in this manner: “Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhindered.”

INTRODUCTION:

A- Background:

1- Recapitulation of events:

Paul’s party had departed from Caesarea, experienced delay in Fair Havens, and had made an ill-advised departure from Fair Havens into the open sea.

().

They had encountered a nor’easter storm of Typhoon intensity.

Paul had use the opportunity to witness to the soldiers, sailors and others aboard the ship.

The Roman commander, following Paul’s directions, had kept all travelers aboard the ship – even though it eventually broke apart.

According to Paul’s prediction, all who were aboard the ship arrived safely on the island.

(Acts 27:13 – 44)

Chapter 28 picks up with the shipwrecked travelers arriving safely on shore and receiving remarkable hospitality from the natives of the island.

B- Setting:

I-

1- As a result of the storm, the ship on which Paul traveled suffered shipwreck about 450 miles off course.

(See map)

2- After all of the travelers arrived safely on shore, they found out they had landed on the island of Malta.

3- The island of Malta lies 58 miles south of Sicily and 180 miles north of the African coast.

The Phoenicians and colonized it thousand years earlier, so the language that was spoken by the citizens in 1st century Malta was a Carthaginian dialect, rather than Greek or Latin.

Romans had assumed control of the island in 218 BC and placed a governor on the island to protect the Empire’s interest.

I- The reality of Christ’s resurrection removes our fears and provides hope in life and death ().

Throughout Acts miracles are always shown to be in service to the word.

They provide the occasion and opportunity for sharing the gospel.

Luke gave no account of Paul’s evangelizing Malta; but following the pattern of miracle and witness found throughout Acts, one would naturally assume that Paul seized this opportunity to share the gospel with the natives.

A- God’s amazing power was demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection.

B- Christ’s resurrection guarantees our own resurrection and provides hope for God’s help in the midst of trouble.

II- There is a common bond that connects Christ followers everywhere ().

II- There is a common bond that connects Christ followers everywhere ().

A-

III- The circumstances that we encounter cannot alter God’s plan for our work of carrying out the mission of Christ ().

IV- There should be no delay in our obedience when God has called us to a distinctive role or task ().

a large group of scholars date Acts before A.D. 64.

This view is always combined with the traditional Lukan authorship and is primarily advanced in an attempt to explain the ending of Acts, which mentions a two-year house arrest of Paul in Rome but says nothing about the outcome of Paul’s arrest (Acts 28:30f.).

The abrupt ending would be explained if Luke wrote Acts at precisely this point—two years after Paul’s arrival in Rome and before his case came to trial.18

All this fits quite well, since the “we” narrative has brought Luke to Rome (cf.

27:1–28:16); and the epistles to Colosse and Philemon, which have traditionally been ascribed to Paul’s Roman imprisonment, both mention Luke as being present with Paul during this period.

Luke is thus seen to have written Acts at precisely this point and concluded his story after “two whole years” in Rome.

Advocates of this view appeal to other features of Acts, such as the primitive theology of Peter’s speeches, the fact that the Neronic persecution (A.D. midsixties) is nowhere alluded to, and that Luke showed no acquaintance with Paul’s epistles.19

Also, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 is not mentioned in Acts.

Given the prominence of the Jerusalem church and its leaders, such an omission would have been unlikely if Acts were written after Jerusalem’s demise.

CONCLUSION:

A- What happened while in Rome?

During these two years in Rome, Paul wrote Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.

He expected to be released (Phil.

1:23–27; 2:24; Phile.

22) and most students agree that he was.

During this time, he had Timothy with him (Phil.

1:1; 2:19; Col. 1:1), as well as John Mark, Luke, Aristarchus, Epaphras, Justus, and Demas (Col.

4:10–14; Phile.

24).

He also met Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus and led him to faith in Christ (Phile.

10–21).

Epaphroditus brought a gift to him from the Philippian church and almost died ministering to Paul (Phil.

2:25–30; 4:18).

Tychicus was Paul’s “mailman” who delivered Ephesians (Eph.

6:21), Colossians, and Philemon (Col.

4:7–9).

Dr. Luke ended his book before Paul’s case had been heard, so he could not give us the results of the trial.

We have every reason to believe that Paul was indeed released and that he resumed his ministry, probably traveling as far as Spain (Rom.

15:24, 28).

During this period (A.D. 63–66/67), he wrote letters to Timothy and Titus.

He left Titus in Crete (Titus 1:5), Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Tim.

4:20), and Timothy in Ephesus (1 Tim.

1:3).

He planned to meet some of his helpers at Nicopolis (Titus 3:12–13) after he had visited some of the churches he had established.

Wherever he went, he sought to bring Jews and Gentiles to faith in Jesus Christ.

He was arrested again, probably about the year 67, and this time his situation was changed drastically.

He did not live in a house, but was chained in a prison and treated like a criminal (2 Tim.

1:16; 2:9).

Winter was coming, and he asked Timothy to bring him his cloak (2 Tim.

4:13).

But the saddest thing about this second imprisonment was his being forsaken by the believers in Rome (2 Tim.

4:16–17).

The great apostle to the Gentiles was abandoned by the very people he came to assist.

Even Demas forsook him, and only Luke was with him (2 Tim.

4:10–11).

The family of Onesiphorus ministered to his needs (2 Tim.

1:16–18), but he longed for Timothy and Mark to come to be at his side (2 Tim.

1:4; 4:9, 21).

Paul knew that the end was coming (2 Tim.

4:6–8).

Tradition tells us that he was beheaded at Rome in A.D. 67/68.

Luke did not write his book simply to record ancient history.

He wrote to encourage the church in every age to be faithful to the Lord and carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

“What was begun with so much heroism ought to be continued with ardent zeal,” said Charles Spurgeon, “since we are assured that the same Lord is mighty still to carry on His heavenly designs.”

“Lo, I am with you always!”

1- Paul proclaimed the Gospel without hinderance.

a.

To any who came and would listen.

b.

To Roman guards who were chained to him.

(1) Some of them were saved (; )

2- Paul wrote the letters to Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.

3- He expected to be released (most scholars believe he was) (; ; )

4- He He had companions with him (Tomothy, John Mark, Luke, Aristarchus, Epaphras, Justus, and Demas (; ; ; ; ).

5- Met and led Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus, to Christ ().

6- Epaphroditus brought him a gift from the Philippians and almost died (; ).

7- Tychicus was paul’s “mailman” who delivered Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon (; ).

B- What happened after Rome?

1- Paul was released and that he resumed his ministry, probably traveling as far as Spain (, ).

2- During this period (a.d.

63–66/67), he wrote letters to Timothy and Titus.

He left Titus in Crete (), Trophimus sick in Miletus (), and Timothy in Ephesus ().

He planned to meet some of his helpers at Nicopolis () after he had visited some of the churches he had established.

Wherever he went, he sought to bring Jews and Gentiles to faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul was indeed released and that he resumed his ministry, probably traveling as far as Spain (, ).

3- He was arrested again, probably about the year 67, and this time his situation was changed drastically.

He did not live in a house, but was chained in a prison and treated like a criminal (; ).

Winter was coming, and he asked Timothy to bring him his cloak ().

But the saddest thing about this second imprisonment was his being forsaken by the believers in Rome ().