HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS

Lesson 12 Pauls Journey To Rome To Appeal to Caesar

(Acts 27, 28)
I. The Shipwreck on the Mediterranean Sea
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

(Acts 27:1-32)

Paul was placed in the custody of a Roman centurion named Julius (Acts 27:1)
Please notice all the WE VERSES. Luke was with them
(Acts 27:1-8, etc.)
When they landed at Sidon, Paul was permitted to visit his friends (Acts 27:3)
They sailed past Cyprus
(Acts 27:4)
They sailed past Cilicia and Pamphylia
(Acts 27:5)
On another ship from Alexandria going to Italy, they set sail from Myra (Acts 27:5, 6)
They sailed past Crete with difficulty
(Acts 27:7, 8)
NOTE: Paul warned them of great danger in the time ahead, but the centurion did
not listen to him
(Acts 27:9-12)

9. With a gentle breeze, they sailed near the coast of Crete

(Acts 27:13)
10. But, a wind of hurricane force, swept down on them, and they were carried along by
it
(Acts 27:14-17)
11. They began to throw the cargo overboard
(Acts 27:18)
12. The storm continued raging, and they gave up all hope of being saved
(Acts 27:19, 20)
13. Paul said, You should have taken my advice ...... but, ... keep up your courage ....not
one of you will be lost .... only the ship will be destroyed
(Acts 27:21, 22)
14. An angel had told Paul, You must stand trial before Caesar (Acts 27:23, 24)
15. On the fourteenth night, they approached land
(Acts 27:27)
16. Paul said, Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved (Acts 27:31)
II. They Were Rescued By The Lord

(Acts 27:33-44)

1. Paul encouraged them to eat some food. He gave thanks. There were 276 people.
(Acts 27:33-38)
2. They saw a shore line with a sandy beach
(Acts 27:39)
3. The ship struck a sandbar and ran aground
(Acts 27:41)
4. The stern of the ship was broken apart by the force of the storm
(Acts 27:41)
5. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so they would not escape (Acts 27:42)
6. But, the centurion wanted to spare Pauls life, so he prevented their plan
(Acts 27:43)
7. Those who could swim jumped into the sea, and the rest held on to planks or pieces
of the ship
(Acts 27:43, 44)
8. EVERYONE REACHED LAND SAFELY!
(Acts 27:44)
III. Miracles On Malta

(Acts 28:1-10)

1. The island was MALTA (Acts 28:1)

2. The people on the island received them with kindness
(Acts 28:2)
3. Paul gathered firewood. A snake (viper) fastened itself to Pauls hand. He shook off
the snake into the fire, and WAS NOT HURT
(Acts 28:3, 4)
4. The people expected him to swell up and fall dead
(Acts 28:6)
5. At first, they thought of him as possibly a murderer, but NOW they said he was a god

(Acts 28:6)
6. Publius, the chief official of the island, welcomed them into his home for three days
(Acts 28:7)
7. His father was suffering from fever and dysentery
(Acts 28:8)
8. Paul prayed, placed his hands on him, and healed him (Acts 28:8)
9. MANY SICK ON THE ISLAND WERE CURED
(Acts 28:9)
10. Luke said, they honored us in many ways....
(Acts 28:10)
IV. Paul In Rome Was A Prisoner In His Own Hired House

(Acts 28:11-31)

1.
2.
3.
4.

After three months, they left on a ship that had spent the winter there (Acts 28:11)
They came to Italy, and at Puteoli, found some brothers in Christ (Acts 28:13, 14)
THEY CAME TO ROME!
(Acts 28:14)
Brethren from Rome met him along the way
(Acts 28:15) This was so
encouraging to Paul!
5. Paul was permitted to live by himself with a soldier to guard him
(Acts 28:16)
6. Paul asked for the Jewish leaders to meet with him, and he told them about his arrest and
imprisonment
(Acts 28:17-20)
7. These Jewish people did not know about the problem, but they wanted to hear more
(Acts 28:21, 22)
8. They came again in larger numbers and Paul spoke about JESUS from the Law of Moses
and the Prophets
(Acts 28:23)
9. Some believed, but some did not
(Acts 28:24)
10. Paul pointed out the hardness of the hearts of men
(Acts 28:25-27)
11. .... Gods salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen (Acts 28:28)
12. For TWO YEARS, Paul stayed in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to
him
(Acts 28:30)
13. With boldness, he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus
Christ
(Acts 28:31)
CONCLUSION:
What happened to Paul? Some feel that he was later released by Caesar, that
he did more preaching, was arrested again, taken to Rome again and killed.
Some verses suggest that Paul expected to be released. Please see Philippians 2:23, 24. When he
wrote Philemon from prison, he asked this brother to prepare a room for him, for he hoped to come
(Philemon 22)
There are also other indications in books such as II Timothy and Titus that Paul preached in other
places and these details do NOT fall into his four journeys. So, it is felt that he might have been
released and did more evangelizing before his final arrest and execustion. However, this is uncertain.