October 2026

03-October-2026

Reflections 51

Brit Hadashah

Torah portion

Haftarah portion

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

Our final ‘reflection’ in Acts sees Paul begin his arduous and eventful journey to Rome. His audience with King Agrippa had ended on an interesting note, with Agrippa declaring Paul’s complete innocence of the charges brought against him by the Sanhedrin. This is yet another example of the way God works to bring about His purposes. He had prophesied that Paul would go to Rome (to Kings) to witness for Him. And now it is about to be fulfilled. But not without God demonstrating yet again, to Paul and his travelling companions, His awesome might and power during the hazardous voyage.

(For interest and information, scholars have determined that Paul’s encounter with the risen Yeshua was probably in the year 37 C.E. and now, at this point in his life, Paul had already written epistles to the “ekklesia” in Thessalonica (twice) 52 C.E., Corinth (twice) 57 C.E., Galatia 57 C.E. and Rome 58 C.E.. His journey to Rome occurred during the period from 60-61 C.E. and he died there about 67 C.E.)

The eventful journey is described in some detail, but consequent upon Paul’s strength and faith in Almighty God resulted in all 276 persons on the ship arriving safely in Malta. There God miraculously used Paul to His own glory by the survival of Paul from a deadly serpent’s bite, and in the healing miracle wrought in the life of the father of Plubius, a leading citizen of Malta. Thus, although Paul was never one to seek glory for himself, it never-the-less resulted in significant benefit to Paul and his companions. (Those who visit Malta today will observe an overwhelming Christian influence, which is thought to be a result of Paul’s visit 2000 years ago). One is tempted to observe that God always looks after His own, and Paul was definitely one of His own! Does anyone else remember the refrain from the old hymn? :-

God is still on the throne,
And He will remember His own;
Tho’ trials may press us and burdens distress us,
He never will leave us alone;
God is still on the throne,
He never forsaketh His own;
His promise is true, He will not forget you,
God is still on the throne.

After resting in Malta for about three months they continued on to Rome. Upon arrival, Paul was allowed to live freely in the community, albeit under the watchful eye of one of the soldiers. There was no “jetlag” in Paul’s day! So after three days Paul set about his task of teaching, firstly the Jewish population, about Yeshua. At last they were able put a ‘face’ to the ‘letter writer’.

(Let us note here that Paul had written to the Roman “ekklesia” from Corinth a couple of years earlier in an attempt to mend breaches in the relationship between the Jewish and Gentile believers, which had been occasioned following the expulsion of the Jews from Rome by Emperor Claudius in 54 C.E. then, just three years later invited back by Emperor Nero … but that is another story!!).

In establishing his credentials to the Jewish leaders, and to counter any misinformation which might have preceded him from Jerusalem he quickly stated, as he had done to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, that he had done NOTHING against the laws and customs of Judaism. But they had heard nothing contrary about him from Jerusalem, or from anyone else. However, they were aware that “The Way” was spoken of with contempt by many other orthodox Jewish communities. They were anxious to get the story ‘at first hand’ so to speak. So on an appointed day they met again at Paul’s lodging where he “solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Yeshua from both the Torah of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening”. The record shows that some were convinced and others were not. It has always been the same. But in their case, Paul rebuked them with words from the Prophet Isaiah and declared that the salvation in Yeshua which was (and is) freely available to them would be offered, just as freely, to the Gentiles, and they would hear it!! The rest, as they say, is history.

There are many lessons to be learned from our readings in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. From Yeshua’s ascent into heaven and His promised return in like manner. The gift of the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit to empower trusting men. And the exploits of the Apostle to the Gentiles, our beloved Paul (Rabbi Sha’ul). We have learned that Paul’s own testimony, from his own lips, was that he was remarkably changed, by Yeshua, from blindness to Him in Pharisaic Judaism, to worship of Him in Messianic Judaism. We are the beneficiaries.

Shabbat Shalom