Skip to main content
Back to Christianity in Motion 2022

Sermon Notes

The Gospel Keeps Going!

Sunday 18 December 2022 Pastor Craig Ledbetter Acts 28:1-31
Watch on YouTube Download Audio

I. Background (Acts 5:42)

A. This year has been the year of motion

Christians getting active and in motion with the Gospel that still changes lives!

B. Our memory verse for the year has been Acts 5:42

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

C. We started in Acts Chapter 1, with Jesus back alive from the grave

And promising to return again soon.

D. A small group of about 120 believers gathered in an upper room

In Jerusalem in chapter 2, praying and waiting for the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit of God to indwell them, and use them to turn this world upside down in just one generation!

E. And turn it upside down they did…

  1. From Jerusalem, to Judaea, into Samaria
  2. And then Ethiopia, and Caesarea, and Antioch, and modern Turkey
  3. And then into Macedonia, and Corinth, and Athens and all Greece
  4. And through troubles, and persecutions and impossible obstacles, they overcame
  5. And the Gospel message was preached, and taught and explained, and believed
  6. All the way to Rome!
  7. And it happened in less than 10 years from the crucifixion
  8. Without armies, without politics, without money, or power
  9. Just heart, and courage to tell the world, that Jesus saves!

F. We left off last week in Acts chapter 27

With the Apostle Paul and 275 other SOULS shipwrecked, on an unknown island, after surviving a two week long hurricane in the Mediterranean Sea.

G. Let’s see how this book in our Bible, written by Luke, ends

H. And let’s see if we might could add our own chapter to it, almost 2,000 years later!

II. Message

A. Ashore on Melita / Malta (Acts 28:1,2)

  1. Acts 28:1,2 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 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.
  2. The storm was continuing - locked in place over the Mediterranean sea
  3. The “barbarous people” welcomed us all, drenched and shivering
    • Barbarous people? Didn’t speak Latin, or Greek
    • Foreigners to Paul, and all the men on that boat
  4. Kindness can come from anybody
  5. Make sure it comes from YOU, dear Christian!

B. What to Do When a Viper Bites? (Acts 28:3-6)

  1. Acts 28:3,4 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. 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.

  2. The Bite…

    • A viper is a fast striking venomous snake - very deadly
    • Its bite causes extreme pain, then shock, and then after just a few hours, certain death

  3. The Conclusion

    • The people thought fate / karma had caught up with him
    • Paul probably still was in chains
    • Paul must be a murderer - many of the criminals from the shipwreck were accused of murder, so Paul must just be one of them
    • All cultures believe in some kind of ultimate justice

  4. And yet what did Paul do? He shook it off!

    • Acts 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
    • What made the difference?
      1. Firstly, Paul had an ATTITUDE
        • He was not going to allow that snake to stay on him
        • He did not let it hold onto him
        • Most of us would do the same - except when it comes to emotional hurts
      2. Secondly, Paul ACTED - He cast that viper into the roaring fire
    • And he just smiled and waited along with everyone else to see what would happen
    • And nothing happened - he didn’t die
    • Everyone now imagined Paul was a super-hero (from murderer to demigod)
      1. Acts 28:6 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.
      2. Big eyes staring at him

  5. Four Principles of Demonic Hurts:

    a. You cannot control life! The attack came out of nowhere - unexpected

    • Paul is helpless
    • No doctor could help him
    • Panic won’t help
    • Neither will getting upset with the situation

    b. Trust that GOD is in control. The only thing for a Christian to do is to Trust in the Lord and the promises of God, and then rest - wait for His will to be done

    • How do you do that?
    • You pray and ask God to help you - believing He can do anything

    “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” - Mark 16:17,18

    • Believe that God will do the right thing - what He thinks is best
    • And then go ahead and sing and thank God because He will always do the right thing
    • That was Paul’s normal approach to every hard thing he faced

    c. And then, shake it off - we would say, “Move On!”

    • Whatever has stabbed you to the heart
    • Whatever has offended you
    • Whatever has hurt you
    • Whatever Satan has thrown at you, and tried to enslave you to…
    • Shake it off - do not let it stay in your heart, or thoughts - throw it out!

    d. And then throw it back to hell where the hurt came from - don’t keep it around

    • Don’t let it continue to hurt you and hold onto you
    • Bury it under the blood of Jesus Christ
    • Nail that viper and all its venom to the cross
    • And walk away by faith, free, and clear from its grip!
    • And maybe, probably, most likely, no harm will come to you!

    e. Just know, if you let that hurt, that past experience hold onto your heart, it will win f. If you are saved, you don’t have to let it win g. You can, by the grace of God, shake it off

C. The Healing of Publius’ Father (Acts 28:7-10)

  1. In the midst of everything that was happening… Paul noticed someone needed help
  2. Publius was chief of the island - the prime minister of the island (Acts 28:7)
    • Acts 28:7 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.
    • A nice guy - accepted the 280 men as refugees from the storm
    • Lodged them - showed kindness
  3. Had a very sick father (Acts 28:8)
  4. Paul cared for, and healed him - an accused criminal, praying over this old man
    • Acts 28:8 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.
    • Fever, and a bloody flow - flux - Dysentery
    • He was in agony
    • Paul approached the father and just healed him - remember, Paul was an apostle!
  5. That act of kindness attracted hundreds of sick people to come get healed (Acts 28:9) So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
  6. All the people honoured Paul and his men, because they were a blessing to them (Acts 28:10) Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. [RESUPPLIED THE LOSSES OF THE SHIPWRECK]

D. On to Rome (Acts 28:11-16)

  1. After three months, they were able to sail again towards Italy (Acts 28:11)
  2. Paul was encouraged when brethren came out to meet him on the road to Rome
    • Acts 28:15 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.
  3. Paul was allowed to dwell by himself in Rome (Acts 28:16)
    • Still chained to a Roman soldier
    • But free to preach and teach

E. Paul’s Ministry in Rome (Acts 28:17-31)

  1. Paul called the Jewish leaders together (Acts 28:17)
  2. Paul explained his situation - why he was there as a prisoner
  3. Paul preached the Gospel to them for an entire day (Acts 28:23)
    • 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.
  4. Some believed, and some believed not (Acts 28:24)
  5. Paul quotes Isaiah about hard hearts and deaf ears (Acts 28:25-27)
  6. The salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles (Acts 28:28)

F. The Open-Ended Conclusion (Acts 28:30,31)

“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

  1. There is no final chapter of the Book of Acts!
  2. The Gospel keeps going
  3. Through us, if we will let it

III. Conclusion

A. Christianity in Motion continues today

  1. The same Gospel that Paul preached
  2. The same power of the Holy Spirit
  3. The same commission to go into all the world

B. Will you shake off your viper?

  1. Whatever is holding you back
  2. Whatever is hurting you
  3. Whatever the enemy has fastened onto your life

C. Will you keep the Gospel going?

  1. In your home
  2. In your workplace
  3. In your neighbourhood
  4. To the uttermost part of the earth

The Gospel keeps going - will you go with it?

Back to Christianity in Motion 2022 All Sermon Series Resources