Why Did the Centurion Isolate Paul?

Tom:

This is our Understanding the Scriptures segment, we are in the Book of Acts Chapter 28, and we’re going to pick up with Verse 12.“And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium:and after one day he South wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days:and so we went toward Rome.”

Dave:

Now Tom, let me interrupt here a second.The critics, the Jesus Seminar scholars supposed.

Tom:

That they decide by a vote.

Dave:

They sit there with their aides and they say, This, of course, was not written at this time, it was not written by Luke, it was written by someone centuries later.Now, of course, that’s a flat out deceit, it’s a deception to write something centuries later and pretend that you were there.Luke writes as though he were an eyewitness to all of this.So, furthermore, to get all these details centuries later?You’d have to look on a map, you would have to somehow figure out, and you couldn’t possibly do it, there is too much detail here!So, the Bible is true in every instance, it is true on every subject, no matter what it is.This is the true way of salvation, this is the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, but we can count on it, even when it’s telling us where this boat went.

Tom:

And Dave, again, this is God’s Word.

Dave:

Right.

Tom:

If it were not true, if it could be proven wrong in any area, hey, let’s move on, let’s gather a crowd and take suggestions.

Dave:

Certainly be wrong, if this was written by some person who wasn’t even there a hundred years later, or whatever.

Tom:

Verse 15:“And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Apia Forum, and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.”We’ve got the troops rallying to Paul.You know, Dave, one of the exciting things about traveling, and certainly you do—what are you? A two-million miler or something like that?

Dave:

Well, more than that.

Tom:

Yeah, but the exciting thing about traveling around and being in different countries, once you meet believers, within minutes it’s like your old friends.I mean, I’ve had so many of those experiences, and they’re delightful, it really offsets the—I mean, it can be a problem traveling these days.But boy, that’s certainly the upside and a real bonus.

Dave:

Well, Tom, there is something about a real Christian that you recognize.

Tom:

Right, you’re family.

Dave:

This person is a believer.I sometimes ask someone, maybe a cab driver: Are you a believer?— you sound like it.Well, yes, how did you know?So, you’re meeting brothers and sisters in Christ, who love one another and who love you and it really is—well, it does ease some of the problems of travel.

Tom:

Verse 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.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.”

Dave:

Tom, let’s go back to Verse 16, just for a moment here.The centurion, he seems to have quite a bit of authority.These prisoners are under his care, under his authority, of course if he loses them it’s his life, but he doesn’t say that he consulted with Caesar or he consulted with some higher up.It just says that he let Paul live by himself with a soldier that kept him.Paul isn’t thrown in with all the prisoners.Some of these guys might get thrown to the lions, or who knows what.But Paul, obviously, after what he has done, his prophecies and the salvation of the crew and the passengers, and they’re used to following Paul’s orders now, and he has brought them through this, his God has brought them through this.

Tom:

Dave, let me just interrupt here.You said the salvation of these prisoners.That brings up something that’s interesting, because salvation is used a number of ways in Scripture.Sometimes people think salvation automatically means that you put your faith in Christ.Now, what were there, two hundred and seventy-six people aboard?

Dave:

Some thing like that.

Tom:

Well, their salvation was their lives were saved, and we have that usage of the word throughout the Scriptures.

Dave:

So, Paul, he’s a special person for a number of reasons.So, Paul has the right—Verse 17—he can call in some visitors, have some guests.I don’t think he was able to say to some servant or whatever, hey, we want a meal served in here.

Tom:

Or a banquet, we’ll put together a little banquet.

Dave:

Right, but he that right—or the freedom, and they come together.Well, he wants to let the chief of the Jews know the facts, who he is and why he is there—and, I’ve committed nothing against the people or the custom of our fathers.He says I delivered prisoners from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.That would be a federal offense for that to be the case, this is obviously unjust.

Tom:

Continuing with Verse 18:“Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of.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.” Do you think they understood that, Dave, the hope of Israel?

Dave:

I don’t know.What is the hope of Israel?Well, the hope of Israel is the Messiah, and being restored to their land, having sovereignty over it, being under the rule and authority of the Messiah.But what he’s really talking about, because not everybody is going to survive until that time, so he’s talking about the resurrection.Do you remember when he was there before the Sanhedrin or those who came, he used that phrase before over Israel, and he defines it as the resurrection because what is the hope?Nothing after death if in this life only we have hope in Christ, Paul says, we are of all men most miserable.So I think he’s talking about the resurrection, whether they get that or not.It should make sense to them because if they are not going to be alive when the Messiah comes, then obviously they can’t get in on this.So, some of them got it, some of them didn’t, I think.That was really why he was condemned by the Rabbis and sent, and then they forced him to appeal to Caesar.

Tom:

Verse 21:“And they said unto him, we neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee.But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest:for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.”So, the sect being The Way, really Christianity.

Dave:

Yeah, the followers of this crucified Messiah, or the followers of this one who claimed to be the Messiah but was crucified, and obviously therefore that proved that He wasn’t the Messiah, although there were these rumors about His resurrection.And Paul, you represent this?And this is what you stand for; this is what you believe and what you preach?Well, we haven’t heard about you specifically, but we certainly know about these pesky Christians, they are causing him trouble everywhere.So hey, let’s get together and hear a little more.