An expository lecture class verse by verse led by Pastor Robert Read

Last week we ended with Paul and company on the Island of Malta, and Paul healed the father of a prominent man on the Island, and then healed all who were sick with diseases on Malta. We pick-up this week in Chapter 28 verse 11 and find that after a 3-month stay on the island they proceeded to sail on to Rome.

Acts Lesson 40 Study Questions

1.    When the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as the Appii Forum and Three Inns: They had received Paul’s famous _______ to the Romans a few years before, so they probably felt like they knew him already – and they certainly wanted to honor him. In light of the love and _______ behind this greeting, no wonder that Paul thanked God and took courage.

2.    “Luke is far from giving the impression that Paul was the first person to bring the gospel to Rome… the presence of those Christians – the brothers, as Luke calls them – provides evidence enough that the ________ had reached Rome already.” (Bruce) There were Jewish people from Rome present at Peter’s preaching on Pentecost many years before (Acts 2:10), so there had probably been Christians from and in Rome from the ___________.

3.    When we came to Rome: “Now, at the very end of the book, the apostle comes to Rome. Thus Jesus’ _________ that his disciples would be his ________ ‘to the ends of the earth’ is fulfilled.” (Boice)

4.    In Philippians 1:13, written from this Roman custody, Paul told of how his __________ reached the palace guards of Rome. Though he was the prisoner, he had a genuinely _________ audience.

5.    Paul called the leaders of the Jews together: Paul followed his consistent _________ of going to the Jews first in every city he came to as an evangelist. It took him only three days to have a meeting with the ________ of the Jews in Rome.

6.    We neither received letters from Judea concerning you: This demonstrates that the religious leaders who accused Paul in Jerusalem and Caesarea knew their case was __________. They made no effort to send ahead documents __________ their case against him.

7.    Some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved: In response to this remarkable, day-long teaching from Paul, some _________ and trusted Jesus. Others did not, and disbelieved. Even the best teaching from the best apostle in the best circumstances could not ________ them.

8.    They departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers.” Paul understood that Isaiah prophesied of their __________ of heart. Certainly, Paul was happy that some received the gospel, but he was undoubtedly distressed if even one of them __________ Jesus.

9.    Therefore, let it be known to you: The preacher of the gospel really preaches two messages. To those who respond to the gospel with faith, he is a messenger of ______. But to those who reject Jesus, the preacher adds to their ______________. 

10.    Then Paul dwelt two years: Paul spent more than two years at Caesarea ________ for his case to be resolved (Acts 24:27). Now he spent another two years ________ for his case to be heard before Caesar.

11.    No one forbidding him: This has the idea of completely __________. Paul’s chains and custody mattered nothing. The word of God was ___________.