Paul in Rome

Paul in Rome
Acts 28

After the apostle Paul was shipwrecked, and landed on the island of Malta, he was bitten by a snake, these stories are on the Children's Bible Story page...

After Paul, the other prisoners, and the soldiers had been on the island of Malta for three months, they sailed away in a ship that had also wintered on the island, and at several of the places they stopped, when fellow Christians (that Paul calls "brethren") heard that Paul was there, they came to see him, and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged by their visit.

When they came to Rome, the centurion (who was in command of many soldiers) delivered the other prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier who watched over him.

And after three days, Paul called the leaders of the Jews together, and he said to them "Men and brethren, even though I have done nothing wrong against the people or against their customs, I was brought prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. And, when they had finished asking me questions, they would have let me go because they knew that I had done nothing that deserved death. But the Jews spoke against me, and so I had to appeal to Caesar. And therefore, I have called for you to see you and speak with you, because it is because of the hope of Israel (salvation through the Lord Jesus) that I am bound in chains."

And they said to Paul "We didn't receive letters concerning you, and none of the brethren that came spoke any harm against you. But we desire to hear from you what you think, because we know that concerning Christianity, everywhere people speak against it."

And so on a certain day, many came to Paul at his house, he told them everything concerning the kingdom of God, and about Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and the prophets, and he spoke to them from morning to evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some did not believe.

And when they disagreed among themselves, they left after Paul had said "the Holy Ghost spoke well by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying 'go to this people, and say: hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see and not understand. For these people have hardened their hearts, and they do not hear, and they have closed their eyes to understanding what they see, so that they should not be converted.' Therefore let it be known that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it."

And after that Paul lived two years in his own rented house and received everyone that came to him, and preached the kingdom of God, and taught with confidence the things about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one stopped him.

Memory Verse: Acts 28:24 "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some did not believe."

Questions:
1 What happened when fellow Christians came to see Paul when they heard he was in the place where he landed on his way to Rome?
2 When they got to Rome, where was Paul kept?
3 Why did Paul call the leaders of the Jews who lived in Rome together?
4 What happened when all the Jews came to hear Paul speak all the things about Jesus?
5 What do you think happens when people today hear about the Lord Jesus?
6. What do YOU think about the things you have heard about the Lord Jesus?

Answers:
1 Paul thanked God for them, and was encouraged by their visit.
2 He was allowed to live by himself with a soldier watching over him.
3 To tell them what had happened, and to speak to them of the hope of Israel (Jesus)
4 Some believed him and some did not.
5 Some believe and some do not.

Vicki C. Gross/Sept'04