Acts 28 Paul Arrives in Rome | Deborah Akins

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Acts Chapter 28

Deborah Akins 

WOW Lesson 22

April 29, 2026

The Five P’s: Navigating the Wild Ride of Faith

I. Introduction: The Wild Ride

• The Acts Thriller: Acknowledging the "action-packed" nature of the book (riots, jailbreaks, shipwrecks).
• The Global Impact: The Gospel reaching the Gentiles and changing the world.
• The Framework: Introducing the four P’s as a way to categorize the book.

II. People

• The Cast of Acts:
   
  • Leaders: Peter, Stephen, Barnabas, Ethiopian Eunuch, Publius, Paul.
  • Officials: Felix, Festus, Agrippa, Cornelius.
  • Laypeople: Lydia, Tabitha, Paul’s nephew, Apollos, Aquila, Timothy, Natives of Malta.
• Life Review: Recognizing that God uses, appoints, and assigns people in our own lives to encourage, challenge, or test us.

III. Places & Plans

• Places: From Jerusalem to Samaria; to Rome by land and sea.
• Plans:
  • The Father’s plan: Sending the Holy Spirit.
  • Plans to execute Peter or Saul’s plan to wipe out "The Way."

IV. Problems

• The Formula: People + Places + Plans = Problems.
• Transition: Acts as a book of transitions (Jesus to Apostles; Old Covenant to New Covenant).
• Problems: Neglect of widows, prejudice, shipwrecks, and snake bites.
• Personal Transitions: From home to independence, singleness, marriage, widowhood, aging, and career changes.
• The Pivot: Have we "kicked against the pricks" or listened and cooperated like Cornelius?

V. The Malta Ministry: (Acts 28:1-11)

• Survival at Malta: 276 people making it to shore (even the non-swimmers).
• The Snake: Paul shaking off the viper and the natives’ changing perspectives.
• The Healing of the Leader’s Father: Healing the leader’s father.
• Focus: "Set your mind on His purposes, not the persecutor" (Keen) (and not the problem).

VI.  Providence (Acts 28:12-16)

• The South Wind: Learning to rely on God’s hand rather than deceptive "south winds."
• The Arrival in Rome: Meeting the believers at Appii Forum; Paul taking courage.
• The Hallelujah Moment: Paul in his own rented house, guarded but free to preach.

VII. The Bonus P

• The Jewish Leaders in Rome (vv. 17-29): Paul’s final appeal and the warning from Isaiah 6.
• Two Types of Peace:
  • Peace WITH God: Repenting of self-righteousness; submitting to Christ’s blood (Romans 10:3).
  • Peace OF God: Cooperating with the People, Places, Plans, and Problems God allows.
• The Surgical Consult Analogy: The absurdity of "running the show" during God's spiritual surgery.
• Final Call: It is God’s providential plans that bring us to Peace.

VIII. Closing Prayer

Notes:

The law and the prophets speak of the Messiah’s coming

Genesis 3:15; 26:4

Psalm 2:6-12; 40:6-8; 110:1-4

2 Samuel 7:12,13

Job 19:25

Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:14-17

Ezekiel 17:22-23

Isaiah 4:2; 7:14; 9:6-7; 11:1-5; 53:10-12

The Hope of Israel — “More than a resurrection, it meant fulfillment of the Old Testament promises to Israel. Paul firmly believed Jesus is the Messiah of Israel who will return someday and establish Himself as the King of Israel and Lord of the nations” (Walvoord & Zuck).

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Thank you so much, ladies. You know, I have a at the beginning of the year I say like here are the goals of Bible study and women of wisdom. And one of them is that we would be in the Word every day studying. Has anybody been in the Word every day studying this year? I hope every hand goes up because that was really one of the goals. And uh I got a lot of letters this year, and I just really appreciate it when somebody encourages. Um, but one of my favorites was definitely from a husband. I don't know why I like hearing from them, but he said, get this though. He said, My life is different because my wife is different when she's in the Word every day. Thank you for what you do. It was a very short, very simple email, but I loved hearing that because, ladies, unlike Vegas, what you do in Bible study doesn't stay in Bible study. And so I just love that that's what we do. So speaking of not staying in Bible study, I wanted to talk to you about something that happened in September, right when we were getting started. A young man named Charlie Kirk. He was an American right-wing political activist, media personality, and founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA. He was known for his Christian beliefs and arguments to uphold them when discussing them with others, particularly college students. And um I debated on even saying his name when I was telling this story, because this is not about politics at all. This is just a story. So just I wanted to give you the background of who I'm talking about, though, because he was assassinated while he was trying to talk about his Christian beliefs. Um and during that time, Dr. Harry Gary Hallquist, who used to be one of our teachers here at seminary, um, shared a post by Chad Germany, and I just loved what it said and how it applies to Acts and listen up. He said, My daughter just asked why God didn't protect Charlie Kirk. Have you ever had those kind of questions? Why didn't God save my sister? Why didn't God do something to intervene in the middle of this wonderful Christian testimony? And this this uh Chad Germany answered his daughter. I say he said, Um, it's a good question. It's a really hard question. I've seen God supernaturally protect because he can and he does. But Jesus also calls us to be ready to die for him. So all I could say was, I don't know. But I'm sure Charlie is with Jesus now. He won, he was faithful even to the death. Well then the daughter asks an even harder question. Well, will the guy that shot him go to hell? My gut reaction was to blast out. Of course he will. But the truth of the word of God restrained me. If he does not believe in Jesus Jesus, then yes, he will. But if he believes in Jesus, then Jesus would forgive even him. But what's amazing, honey, is that if Charlie could choose, I am sure he would want his killer to be saved and be in heaven. I truly believe that too. I wonder if Stephen was the first to greet Paul when he got to heaven. Isn't that something to think about? That's the glory of the kingdom of God. Victims embracing their killers as brothers. As we wrap up Acts this year, ladies, I am especially touched by this story because I think of Stephen's death and how the persecution from that seems to have springboarded the growth of the church all over all of those cities and names that we can't pronounce. All of that started because of the persecution of the church for things that looked on earth like they weren't going on in a way that would glorify God, but they did. But the first to lay this life down for us was Jesus Christ, and he was the best example that we could have for laying down his life, for forgiving those who killed him. Even before he was dead, he was already saying, Father, forgive them, remember? And he is there to greet each one of us because he died for our sake. It's why we do WoW as a team. And as you saw up here, I love what we do. It's uh not because it elevates us, but because it elevates Jesus Christ. I think WoW meetings in heaven are gonna be absolutely amazing because they will include all of the killers, all of the prodigal children. Prodigal for now. For now, until they come back and come to heaven with us. It will include all of the addicts who turned and got on their knees to ask forgiveness. And anyone who has laid down their life at his feet and said, Please forgive me. Oh, what a day that will be. Here's Deborah.

SPEAKER_00 5:02

So good. Oh, that's loud. If you would check out the screen. For this little lady, this sippy cup was important. Let's open in prayer. Father, we are thankful to you for what you have done and thank you for that testimony that Terry just shared with us. That we have wayward children and wayward neighbors and friends and relatives. And you don't give up on them, just like you didn't give up on us. And so we look forward to that day when they will indeed bow the knee. Speak to our hearts today in Jesus' name. Amen. We're looking at Acts chapter 28 today, for all of you beautiful women of God. So glad you're here. And kind of sad that this is our last day. Aren't you sad? Yeah. But by the grace of God, we'll be back next year to study God's word. The five P's navigating the wide, wild ride of faith. And I got what, 10 minutes. Okay. All righty. We have certainly had a wild ride through the book of Acts. It was more, it was more like an action-packed thriller than a dry historical narrative. We've seen riots and miraculous jailbreaks and stonings and shipwrecks. But most of all, the gospel is going forth to all people, including the Gentiles. Any Gentiles in here? And it changed the whole world. As we look back on the journey of the early church, we can categorize what we've seen with four familiar peas: people, places, plans, and problems. Think about the people we've met, the leaders Peter, Stephen, Barnabas, and the Ethiopian eunuch, Publius, and Paul, officials like Felix and Festus and Agrippa, and various centurions like Cornelius, the lay people, Lydia, Tabitha, Paul's nephew, Apollos, Aquila, Timothy, and the natives of Malta. God uses people and He appoints and assigns people. If you did a quick review of your life right now, you would have a similar list. Some encouraged you, some challenged you, and some God used to test you. We definitely got a good uh geography lesson with the places we saw from Jerusalem to the streets of Samaria to Rome by land, by sea. We did a lot of traveling. And how about the numerous plans that were constructed? The most significant of all was the plan of the Father to send the Holy Spirit when Jesus went back to heaven. It is the spirit at work in the lives of the believers throughout the book of Acts. And the same spirit, remember, tag your it, is at work in our lives today. We saw a plan to execute Peter to please the Jews, the plan of Saul to wipe out the way, and the plan to go to Rome on a ship. We've all had plans. And we would all agree that some work out and some not so much. How about those plans that did not work out? Now, how many of you raise your hand and say, I have some plans that I was glad they didn't work out? People, places, plans, problems. Have you ever noticed that if you are with some people in your lives and that you add some places and some plans, it always adds up to problems. Problems. Acts is a book of transition. And transition is another word for problems. John MacArthur writes, Acts abounds with transitions from the ministry of Jesus to that of the apostles, from the old covenant to the new covenant, from Israel as God's witness nation to the church composed of both Jews and Gentiles as God's witness people. Unquote. We saw problems like the negligence of the Greek widows, the persecution of the believers, prejudice Jews against the Gentile believers, and hatred of the Jewish leaders against Paul. We saw a shipwreck and even a snake bite. We have not experienced such problems in transition periods in our lives, but we have experienced some problems. Like when we went from home to living on our own, from singleness to singleness, from singleness to marriage, and how about to marriage with children? And then the emptiness and widowhood, from young, healthy, energetic to older, slower, and not so energetic. Move into a new town, a new job, a new church. As we remember the God at work through the events in Acts, let's remember that that same God is the one who is at work in the events in our lives. The question is: have we, like Paul, kicked against the prick, or have we, like Cornelius, listened and cooperated? You say, Deborah, you're missing a P. There are supposed to be five. There are only four. I know, I know. Just give me a minute.

unknown 11:38

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 11:40

Let's look at Acts chapter 28 and see if we can find a fifth peak. I don't know what you have on your outline. I forget which one I used, but this is going to be the Malta Ministry, verses 1 through 11. Good. Now, when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed an unusual kindness. And they kindled a fire, made us all welcome because of the rain that was falling, and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer. And though he escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live. But he shook the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up and suddenly fall down dead. And after a while, and they saw no harm to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. Verse 7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of the fever and dysentery. Paul went into him and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They also honored us in many ways, and when we departed, they provided such things as was necessary. After three months, we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the twin brothers, which wintered at the island. Interesting enough, all 276 people made it to shore, even the ones that couldn't swim. Now, I don't know about you, but I consider that a miracle. Not people with loinclaws and spears and nose bones. And this is not Gilligan's Island. This is a place that Roman grain ships can dock for the winter, and the person in charge could house 276 people for three days. So this is not traditional little bitty, you know, lost in the ocean island. Paul is being further authenticated as an apostle of God. He had predicted that everyone would get to shore. And now, before the islanders, he is bitten by a poisonous snake and shakes it off. In addition, he heals the leaders' fathers. Historians say there was a church started here and that Publius became the pastor. This sounds like the pattern that we have seen throughout Acts. As an introduction to his apostles, God gives the ability to do supernatural acts, and that is what he did with Fall here on Malta. Paul and others win the hearts of the people with the gospel message and are sent off with generous donations. And Paul did not let the ongoing trials of life distract him from the calling of the Lord. I love what Kelly King said in one of her earlier lectures. Set your mind on his purpose, not on the persecutor. And I would add, not on the problem. Paul exemplified a heart and mind set on doing what God had called him to do. For that reason, God could use him in the storm and he could use him on the island. Can God use you because you stay focused on him in the problem times? Let's look at 12 through 16. And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days, and from there we circled around and reached Regum, reached Regium, and after one day the south wind blew. And the next day we came to Petioli, where we found brother and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went to Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appia Forum and three taverns. Now, when Saul Paul saw them, he took courage and thanked God. Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. Our fifth providence, fifth P is Providence. God's hand was at work in all the details of Paul's life. He has also custom designed the events in our lives. In these verses, there are places, plans, people, but a few, but fewer problems. The plans are coming together. I am so happy for Paul. Remember the last south wind that deceived the marinas just before you rock it and hit? You cannot rely on the south wind. You have to rely on the leading of God. Many commentaries report that these Christians were probably the result of being in Jerusalem at Pentecost, hearing the gospel, seeing some of the miracles, and heading back home with the excited news of the Messiah. They were tagged and they went and did their job. Paul had not started a church in Rome, but he did know of the church, desired to visit there, and in the meantime, he wrote them, and we have his writings known as the Book of Romans. By the time they reached Appiah in three taverns, an entourage met Paul. And verse 15 says, He thanked God and took courage. Hallelujah. Don't forget, Paul had been chased out of many places, and some places that he arrived at, he thought, hey, I'm safe here. And he would look back and it's like, oh no, here they come. Not only is Paul finally in Rome, but there is no one there trying to kill him. He is met with a parade of believers who are so happy to see him. He can stay in his own place with a Roman guard and preach and teach his little heart out the peace of God. Verses 17 through 22, let's take a look. And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them, men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had none anything against our nation. For this reason, therefore, I have called you to see you, to speak to you, because for the hope of Israel I am in chains. Verse 21, then they said to him, We neither receive letters from Judea concerning you, never have neither brothers spoken or reported evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think concerning the sect or the way. And we know that it is spoken against everywhere. As was customary for Paul when he came to a region, he looked for his Jewish brethren. He couldn't make it to the service that day. So Paul called the chief of the Jews together, and Paul was not sure what was known of him in the regions. Now I have to be honest with you. If I was Paul and I didn't have any Jews chasing me or trying to arrest me or beat me, I would just let well enough alone. So in verse 20 it says, Because for the hope of Israel I am bound with these chains. The Jews wanted to know about more about the sect or the way. So they set up a time for them to come back to talk with Paul. My thoughts were, oh no. How would these Jews respond to Paul, what he has to say? Because he's gonna use that nasty word, Gentiles. Verses 23 through 29, let's see. So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him and his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded, which was spoken to, but some disbelieved, which is such a sad commentary. So Paul had the time of his life preaching and teaching about Jesus, and no one attacked him. Some believed and were added to the family, and they let go of their own righteousness, and they submitted to the righteousness provided in the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. Peace with God. So when they did not agree, they tore their robes and said, No, nope, that's not what it says. It says they departed. And Paul was like, maybe they didn't hear what I said. I know they have some stones somewhere. So let's do this again. And he said to them, Can I just tell you one more thing? And he goes to Isaiah chapter 6. And he says, The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, Go to this people and say, Hearing you will hear and not understand. And seeing you will see and not perceive. For the hearts of this people have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have they closed. Lest they should see with their ears and hear, see with their eyes and hear with their ears, least they should understand with their hearts and turn and turn, and I should heal them. Therefore, let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. Can you see Paul Ducky when he said it? Gentiles. And when so when they picked up, and when he said these words, they picked up stones to no departed and had a great dispute among themselves. Paul is disturbed by the leaders who would not accept the righteousness of God. The Holy Spirit had reminded Jewish leaders of Isaiah 6:9 as you hear the way of salvation today in the word of God and do not respond. Keep in mind the door of opportunity closes more and more. Remember Pharaoh in Exodus chapter 7 through 14? The scripture says numerous times, Pharaoh hardened his heart. But then it says, God hardened his heart. Today is a day of salvation. Verse 30, then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him or throwing stones at him. Paul was eventually released after two years, I think, there, and he was free for five years before he was arrested again, and Nero actually was the one responsible for beheading him. But Paul is home now, home, sweet home. Now, since you have been so patient as we found our fifth P, I have a bonus P for you. The bonus P is peace. Peace of God, peace with God. The bonus P of peace, I challenge you today. If you don't have peace with God, you will settle that today. That peace comes only as you repent of coming up with your own righteousness. Going to church, reading your Bible, giving to the poor, even coming to Wow. These are all good things, but they cannot take away sin. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can take away the sin and give us peace with God. Paul said in verse 28 that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles and they will hear it. The Jews would not hear that they are being a son of Abraham and keeping the law, which they didn't really do, was not enough to save them. They didn't want to hear that. In Romans 10:3, it says, For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. Please, today, submit yourself to the righteousness of God, which is in Christ Jesus, and enter into that peace with God. Now, for us who know God and have the peace with God, we have to mention the peace of God that comes when we cooperate with the people, places, plans, and problems that God allows in our lives. What does that look like? It is the absence of unforgiveness, it is the absence of bitterness and resentment, it is the absence of murmuring and complaining and criticizing. And it is the presence of love, service, thanksgiving, and praise. If you've ever gone for a surgical consult, say a shoulder surgery, the surgeon informed you of what he was going to do, but not all the details. We pretty much, we pretty much cooperated with him. We didn't say, no, I don't want an incision because that's painful. I don't want to go to sleep because I want to see what you're doing. And I would rather have an incision on my bikini line and not on my shoulder. Or better yet, can you just pray over it and I go home? Do you know what the surgeon is going to say? Nurse, nurse, and when the nurse comes in, they're going to say, get her out of here. It sounds ridiculous because it is. But that is how we do, God. God, I'm running this, and this is what I want you to do, and when I want you to do it. No, grasshopper. God is the Lord. And we saw what he had to do to the Apostle Paul. Cooperate with God when he calls you to salvation. Submit to God when he calls you to salvation. Submit to God when he gives you your assignment. That assignment won't matter one day. But the attitude toward God and the people and places and plans and problems that He has allowed in our lives will, because it was His providential care to bring us to peace. Let's pray. Father, we are grateful to you for your providential care that customizes the people, places, and plans and problems that allow us to look more like your darling son Jesus. Thank you for the peace that results. Thank you so much for this year in your word and all you have taught us. I pray that the word of God will dwell richly in us over the summer and that we will be witnesses and we will return next year ready to hear from you. In the matchless name of Jesus, amen. Thank you, ladies.