by Wells, Steve
40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
ACTS 28
28 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
(28.3-6) Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake and yet lives. The “barbarians” who were shipwrecked with him thought he must be a murderer since he was bitten; but then they changed their minds and thought him to be a god since he didn’t die. (The snake story is especially interesting since there are no poisonous snakes on Malta, and there is no evidence of their existence in the past.)
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
(28.3) “When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.”
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
(28.4) “The barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.”
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
(28.5) “He shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.”
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
(28.6) “He should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they … saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
(28.8-9) By praying and touching the sick people of Malta, Paul cures them of their diseases.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
(28.8) “The father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.”
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
(28.9) “When this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed.”
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
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.
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.
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.
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 I am bound with this chain.
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 every where it is spoken against.
(28.22) “Concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.” The Jews of Rome refer to Paul’s new religion as a sect.
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 them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one 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, 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.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
(28.28) “The salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles.”
352 Should the gospel be preached to everyone?
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
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.
ROMANS
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. — Romans 14.5
Paul was a bad influence on Christianity. Nowhere is this more evident than in his epistle to the Romans. Here Paul fully exposes his nastiest belief: that salvation is a completely arbitrary decision on the part of God; none of us has anything to do with it. The only free will that exists in the universe is God’s.
Highlights:
The existence and nature of God are self-evident; thus, unbelievers are “without excuse.” 1.20
God abandons those who don’t know him to “uncleanness and vile affections.” 1.24-26
God will make you gay! 1.26-27
Paul condemns homosexuals (including lesbians). This is the only clear reference to lesbians in the Bible. 1.26-27
“The natural use” of women is to act as sexual objects for the pleasure of men. 1.27
“God gave them over to a reprobate mind.” 1.28
Homosexuals (those without natural affection) and their supporters (those that have pleasure in them) are “worthy of death.” 1.31-32
Those
who slander (or criticize?) Paul are damned by God. 3.8
The guilty are “justified” and “saved from wrath” by the blood of an innocent victim. 5.9-12
God punishes everyone for someone else’s sin; then he saves them by killing an innocent victim. 5.18-19
God gave the law so “that the offence might abound.” 5.20
If you have a living body, you can’t please God, and Christ isn’t in you. 8.8-10
Everyone is predestined by God to be either saved or damned. 8.2, 9.11-22
No one can oppose Christians since God is on their side. 8.31
“He that spared not his own Son” shouldn’t be trusted by anyone. 8.32
A Christian cannot be accused of any wrongdoing. 8.33
If you are a child of the flesh, you are not the seed of God. Whatever that might be. 9.8
God hated Esau. No one knows why. 9.13
He blinded the Jews so they wouldn’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 11.7-10
Gentiles used to be unbelievers, but now the Jews are the unbelievers and God saves gentiles through Jewish unbelief. 11.30
Non-believing Jews will obtain mercy through the mercy of believers. 11.31
“The powers that be are ordained of God.” Whoever resists them will be damned. 13.1-4
Paul couldn’t list the Ten Commandments. 13.9
Only wimps are vegetarians. 14.2
“Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” 14.5
“He that doubteth is damned … Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” 14.23
Shun those who disagree with your religious views. 16.17
ROMANS 1
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
(1.3) “Jesus … was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”
329 Was Joseph the father of Jesus?
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
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.
(1.16) “Salvation to every one that believeth”
304 Is Salvation by faith alone?
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(1.17) “The just shall live by faith.”
33 Has the ever been a just person?
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
(1.20) “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; that they are without excuse.” Those who see no evidence for God’s existence are “without excuse.”
290 Can God be found from reason alone?
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(1.21-22) “Their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
297 Is it OK to call someone a fool?
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
(1.24) “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness.”
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
(1.25) “Served the creature more than the Creator” The Religious Right often uses Romans 1.21-25 to condemn environmentalists.
(1:26-28)God will make you gay! With his usual intolerance, Paul condemns homosexuals (including lesbians). This is the only clear reference to lesbians in the Bible.
Notice, though, that it is God who makes gay people gay, by giving “them up to vile affections.” So according to the Bible, gay people don’t choose to be gay; they are gay because God made them that way (to punish them for God knows what).
(1.26-28)The natural use of the woman Paul explains that “the natural use” of women is to act as sexual objects for the pleasure of men.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
(1.26) “God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.”
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
(1.27) “Also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another.”
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
(1.28) “God gave them over to a reprobate mind.”
(1.29-31) I’m not sure who Paul is talking about here, but they’re all a bunch of proud, wicked, malicious, deceitful, murderous backbiters and God-haters.
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
(1.29) “Filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,”
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(1.30) “Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,”
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
(1.31) “Without understanding, covenantbreak
ers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.”
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
(1.32) “They which commit such things are worthy of death.” Homosexuals (those “without natural affection”) and their supporters (those “that have pleasure in them”) are “worthy of death.”
ROMANS 2
2 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(2.1) “Wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself.”
126 Should we judge others?
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
(2.5-6) “God … will render to every man according to his deeds.”
304 Is Salvation by faith alone?
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
(2.11) “There is no respect of persons with God.”
21 Does God respect anyone?
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;