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Stone

Creek

www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

April 10, 2013

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Paul’s arrival in Rome

Acts 28

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Acts 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion

delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard:

but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a

soldier that kept him.

Paul was by no means free, but a rented house with

a soldier to guard him was better than the prison.

He had earned the trust of the Centurion on the

journey.

Love can be given, but trust must be earned.

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17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul

called the chief of the Jews together: and when

they were come together, he said unto them, Men

and brethren, though I have committed nothing

against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet

was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the

hands of the Romans.

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18 Who, when they had examined me, would have

let me go, because there was no cause of death in

me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was

constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had

ought to accuse my nation of.

Paul wanted to stand before Caesar:

Because it was God’s Will that

he witness in Rome

Because he wanted to be set free.

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20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to

see you, and to speak with you: because that for the

Hope of Israel (Jesus the Messiah) I am bound with

this chain.

Paul didn’t speak of Jesus Christ as the Hope

of the Gentiles, although He is.

But Messiah came to the Jews first.

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Romans 1 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to

preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for

it is the Power of God unto salvation to every one

that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the

Greek.

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21 And they said unto him, We neither received

letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of

the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm

of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou

thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that

everywhere it is spoken against.

A sect is a party or group that is considered

contrary to the main group.

They claimed not to have heard any accusations

against Paul personally,

But they had heard plenty against Christians.

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23 And when they had appointed him a day, there

came many to him into his lodging; to whom he

expounded and testified the Kingdom of

God, persuading (trying to persuade) them

concerning Jesus, both out of the law of

Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till

evening. Paul found plenty of evidence throughout the

Old Testament to prove that Jesus is Messiah.

Some choose to believe the Bible, but

Some choose to believe the wisdom of the world.

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24 And some believed the things which were

spoken, and some believed not.

That is always and will always be the case.

Some will believe and some will not believe.

John 15 20 Remember the Word that I said unto

you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they

have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;

if they have kept My Saying, they will keep yours

also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you

for My Name's sake, because they know not Him

that sent Me.

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25 And when they agreed not among

themselves, they departed, after that Paul had

spoken one (more) Word -- Well spake the Holy

Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye

shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye

shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this

people is waxed gross (calloused), and their ears

are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed;

lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with

their ears, and understand with their heart, and

should be converted, and I should heal them.

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28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the Salva-

tion of God (Messiah; Jesus) is sent unto the

Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29 And when he

had said these words, the Jews departed, and had

great reasoning among themselves.

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30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired

house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching

those things which concern the Lord Jesus

Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

That’s the way Christians should live and

speak -- with all confidence.

Why? Because we are right.

Jesus is the Son of God, and we are the

children of the Most High God.

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The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

One question commonly raised pertains to Paul’s

activities after this two-year captivity. What

happened? Perhaps no charges were filed in Rome

and Paul was released. The Jews would know they

had no case against Paul outside of Judea and so

would be reluctant to argue their cause in Rome.

Probably Paul returned to the provinces of

Macedonia, Achaia, and Asia and then turned west

to Spain according to his original plans (Romans

15). Then he ministered once more in the Aegean

area where he was taken prisoner, removed to

Rome, and executed.

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During this two-year period

Paul wrote what are

commonly called his

“Prison Epistles”--

Ephesians, Colossians, Phil

emon, and Philippians.The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of

the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.