2. Reading #1: Acts 28:1-10 (esv)
After we were brought safely through,
we then learned that the island was
called Malta. [2] The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. [3] When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. [4] When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." [5] He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. [6] They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god… (vs.1-6)

3. Reading #1: Acts 28:1-10 (esv)
…[7] Now in the neighborhood of that
place were lands belonging to the chief
man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. [8] It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. [9] And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. [10] They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. (vs.7-10)

4. Reading #1: Acts 28:1-10 (esv)
…[7] Now in the neighborhood of that
place were lands belonging to the chief
man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. [8] It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. [9] And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. [10] They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. (vs.7-10)
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

5. James 4:13-15 (esv)
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"- [14] yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. [15] Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

6. Acts 28:3-4 (esv)
When Paul had gathered a bundle of
sticks and put them on the fire, a viper
came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. [4] When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

7. Isaiah 1:18-20
"Come now, let us reason together, says
the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. [19] If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; [20] but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

8. Acts 28:6
They were waiting for him to swell up
or suddenly fall down dead. But when
they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds…
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

9. Acts 28:6
They were waiting for him to swell up
or suddenly fall down dead. But when
they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds…
Luke 10:19 (esv)
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

10. Luke 4:9-12
And he took him to Jerusalem and set
Him on the pinnacle of the temple and
said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, [10] for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' [11] and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" [12] And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

11. Luke 19:19-20
Behold, I have given you authority to
tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. [20] Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
#1. in the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection:

12. Reading #2: Acts 28:11-16
After three months we set sail in a ship
that had wintered in the island, a ship of
Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [12] Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. [13] And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. [14] There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. [15] And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. [16] And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.

13. Reading #2: Acts 28:11-16
After three months we set sail in a ship
that had wintered in the island, a ship of
Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [12] Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. [13] And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. [14] There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. [15] And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. [16] And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

14. Reading #2: Acts 28:11-16
After three months we set sail in a ship
that had wintered in the island, a ship of
Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [12] Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. [13] And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. [14] There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. [15] And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. [16] And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

15. Reading #2: Acts 28:11-16
After three months we set sail in a ship
that had wintered in the island, a ship of
Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [12] Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. [13] And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. [14] There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. [15] And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. [16] And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

16. Reading #2: Acts 28:11-16
After three months we set sail in a ship
that had wintered in the island, a ship of
Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [12] Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. [13] And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. [14] There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. [15] And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. [16] And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

17. Reading #2: Acts 28:11-16
After three months we set sail in a ship
that had wintered in the island, a ship of
Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. [12] Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. [13] And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. [14] There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. [15] And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. [16] And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

18. Matthew Henry
The Christians at Rome were so far from
being ashamed of Paul, or afraid of
owning him, because he was a prisoner, that they were the more careful to show him respect. He had great comfort in this. And if our friends are kind to us, God puts it into their hearts, and we must give him the glory. When we see those even in strange places, who bear Christ's name, fear God, and serve him, we should lift up our hearts to heaven in thanksgiving.
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

19. .
Philippians 2:4
“…each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”
Romans 12:15
“Rejoice[s] with those who rejoice, weep[s] with those who weep”
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

20. .
Acts 28:15
“On seeing them, Paul thanked God and
took courage.”
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

21. .
Acts 28:15
“On seeing them, Paul thanked God and
took courage.”
1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
#2. in our Journeys it is Through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision:

22. When they had appointed a day for him,
they came to him at his lodging in greater
numbers. From morning till evening he
expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. [24] And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. [25] And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: [26] "'Go to this people, and say, "You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.“… (vs.23-26)
Reading #3: Acts 28:23-31 (esv)

23. [27] For this people's heart has grown
dull, and with their ears they can
barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' [28] Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." [30] He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, [31] proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance… (vs.23-31)
Reading #3: Acts 28:23-31 (esv)

24. Acts 28:28, (esv)
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." [30] He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, [31] proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
#3. the Journey is a Privilege we have to Continue for His Purpose:

25. the Unexpectedness of Life we Experience Divine Protection
through the Saints we Experience God’s Provision
the Privilege we have to Continue for His Purpose