This Bible Study is written by Roger
Christopherson, available at http://www.theseason.org The Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles Containing the Account of Paul's Journey in Spain and Britain With Notes and Comments by the late T. G. Cole The end of the Book of Acts with Acts 28:30, and 31 ended sort of abrupt, and unlike the true nature of Paul, when he wrote much earlier that he desired to visit Spain and preach the Gospel of Christ there. It just was not like Paul to sit down and end his life making tents in Rome, and preaching out of the front door of his house, especially when he wrote to the saints at Rome, from Corinth that he intended to continue on to Spain to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 15:23 "But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;" Romans 15:24 "Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be some what filled with your company." Paul repeats his intention to visit Spain and he states his intent of making that visit is to come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. Paul wants to preach to the people in Spain. Romans 15:28 "When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain." Romans 15:29 "And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ." Now what is interesting of the way that Paul's life ended, though the last two verses are listed in many of the ancient manuscripts, this is the verse in question; Acts 28:29. In this verse Paul talked about his visitation by the Jews. This verse is not in the most ancient manuscripts, as recorded by Ferrar Fenton. In his book he writes; "This eloquent history of a part of St Paul's life written by his cousin and physician, St Luke, under his own supervision, was left unfinished." The book of Acts gives us no clue as to what happened to Paul after the two years of confinement and teaching from his house in Rome. Was Paul acquitted by Caesar after his trial, or did his case go by default? Was Paul martyred under Nero? There are many questions left unanswered, yet we know that Paul was an Apostle unto the Gentiles, and the final chapter of Acts was kept in safe keeping all through the Ottoman Empire until it was released by the Sultan Abdul Achmat, in the late 1700's The following are the comments given by the late T. G. Cole, writing in 1801 about this chapter of Acts 29. "In bringing to the notice of the Christian Public the document known by the name of the "Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles," we feel that we are fulfilling a duty to Christ and rendering a service to our fellows. In all probability not one percent of Christian believers, not to speak of the general public, have ever heard of the "Sonnini Manuscript"; yet how many earnest believers would be delighted to have corroborative evidence of the visit of the Great Apostle to the Gentiles to these lands. The document referred to purports to be the concluding portion of the "Acts of the Apostles", and gives an account of Paul's journeys after his two years enforced residence in Rome in his own hired house. It is written in the style of the Acts and reads like a continuation of it." "It was found interleaved in a copy of the Sonnini's travels in Turkey and Greece, and purchased at the sale of the library and effects of the late Right Hon. Sir John Newport, Bart., in Ireland, whose family arms were engraved on the cover of the book, and in whose possession it had been for more than thirty years, with a copy of the firman of the sultan of Turkey, granting to C. S. Sonnini from an original Greek manuscript found in the Archives at Constantinople, and presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achmet. The following is the contents of the title page of Sonnini's work, in which the English translation of the document was found: "Travels in Turkey and Greece undertaken by order of Louis XVI, and with the authority of the Ottoman Court by C. S Sonnini, member of several scientific or literary societies of the Society of Agriculture of Paris, and of the Observers of Men. `Mores moltorum videt et ubes.' -Hor., London; Printed for T. N. Longman and O. Rees, Patermoster Row, 1801." The following is the English translation of the Sonnini Manuscript, which was originally written in Greek, translated to French and English, the authenticity of which cannot be vouched for." The Acts Chapter 29 "Paul's journeys from Rome to Spain and Britain." This chapter is a report of where Paul traveled after his visit to Rome, and it is not documented in Scripture, however there is much history that speaks of this journey. This chapter also is important in tracing the migrations of the House of Israel, those ten tribes of the north that were scattered by the Assyrians between 745 and 722 B.C. This chapter cannot be considered as Scripture, however its value of our understanding its content is important, because it allows us another key to understand what time it is for our generation. Acts 29:1 "And Paul, full of the blessings of Christ, and abounding in the spirit, departed out of Rome, determining to go into Spain, for he had a long time purposed to journey thitherward, and was minded also to go from thence into Britain." Britain was a name that was named by the Romans. The word "Brit", means "covenant", and "Ish" is the form of the word man, or people. "British" then comes from the words "Covenant People". Acts 29:2 "For he had heard in Phenicia that certain of the children of Israel, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to the isles afar off," as spoken by the prophet, and called by the Roman's Britain." The prophet spoken of here was the Prophet Ezra. Acts 29:3 "And the Lord commanded the gospel to be preached far hence to the Gentiles, and to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The Gentiles are the nations, and the "Lost sheep of the house of Israel" are the offspring of the ten tribes of the House of Israel that were scattered by the Assyrians in the eighth century before Jesus Christ's birth to the virgin Mary. Remember what the Holy Spirit said of Paul back in Acts 9:15; "But the Lord said unto him [Ananias], "Go thy way: for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" Acts 29:4 "And no man hindered Paul; for he testified boldly of Jesus before the tribunes and among the people and he took with him certain of the brethren which abode with him at Rome, and they took shipping at Ostium, and having the winds fair, were brought safely into an haven of Spain. It is obvious that all charges against Paul at this time were dropped, and Paul was found completely innocent in Rome before Caesar. Acts 29:5 "And much people were gathered together from the towns and villages, and the hill country; for they had heard of the conversion of the apostle, and the many miracles which he had wrought." During the Assyrian activity, this report is accurate, in that respect. Keep in mind that the House of Israel was never lost to God. Matthew 10:5, 6; "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:" [5] "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." [6] They were never lost to God, but only to themselves. God said He would scatter them, and He used the Assyrian to accomplish this. Acts 29:6 "And Paul preached mightily in Spain, and great multitudes believed and were converted, for they perceived he was an apostle sent from God." The lost tribes knew from the Scripture that a Messiah was promised, and Paul preached the fulfillment of that Scripture. Acts 29:7 "And they departed out of Spain, and Paul and his company finding a ship in Armorica sailed unto Britain, they went therein, and passing along the South coast they reached a port called Raphinus." "Raphinus" is the Roman name for "Sandwich", in Kent England. In Saxon times there was an old house that was called the "house of the Apostles". Tradition has it that Paul was one of those apostles that stayed there. Acts 29:8 "Now when it was noised abroad that the apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paul courteously, and he entered in at the east gate of their city, and lodged in the house of an Hebrew and one of his own nation." It is a trait of the our people that they have always be hungry for the truth. Paul stayed with a Benjamite while in Britain. Acts 29:9 "And on the morrow he came and stood upon Mount Lud; and the people thronged at the gate, and assembled in the Broadway, and he preached Christ unto them, and many believed the word and the testimony of Jesus. This is the exact location where St Paul's cathedral stands today in London England. How did Christianity spread from Jerusalem, through Rome, and up through Spain into Britain? We see by this lost chapter that they came from all Britain and assembled here to hear Paul, "and many believed the word and the testimony of Jesus." Though we simply can not call this chapter Scripture, we find that this chapter of Acts does align with the rest of the Scripture. Acts 29:10 "And at even the Holy Ghost fell upon Paul, and he prophesied, saying, Behold in the last days the God of Peace shall dwell in the cities, and the inhabitants thereof shall be numbered; and in the seventh numbering of the people, there eyes shall be opened, and the glory of their inheritance shine forth before them. And nations shall come up to worship on the Mount that testifieth the patience and long suffering of a servant of the Lord." The "seventh numbering", is the Millennium age or dispensation. It is the new dispensation that begins in the Revelation 21, and is the time of new beginnings. So it is taught that on that day every eye shall be open, and shall bow to Jesus Christ the Lord. This is Scriptural from both the Old and New Testament, and even spoken of by Jesus Himself in Revelation. Acts 29:11 "And in the latter days new tidings of the Gospel shall issue forth out of Jerusalem, and the hearts of the people shall rejoice, and behold, fountains shall be opened, and there shall be no more plague." This is true because Christ will have returned and all flesh will be gone. We will all be in spiritual bodies at that time on the first day of the Millennium age. The word shall come Jerusalem because when Christ returns to earth, his feet will touch Mount Zion first at His arrival, and that is were His temple for the Millennium age will rest. This entire happening is recorded in Ezekiel 40, and that is where and when the numbering of the peoples are divided by tribe and nation. Acts 29:12 "In those days there shall be wars and rumours of wars; and a king shall rise up, and his sword shall be for the healing of the nations, and his peace making shall abide, and the glory of his kingdom a wonder among princes." During the time of the preparation for battles in Armageddon and Hammon-gog, Christ will put down all those evil forces, and sword shall be the healing of all nations. Revelation 19:15 "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Acts 29:13 "And it came to pass that certain of the Druids came unto Paul privately, and showed by their rites and ceremonies they were descended from the Jews which escaped from bondage in the land of Egypt, and the apostle believed these these things, and he gave them the kiss of peace." Even today there are many rites and practices of native Americans as well as around the world that trace their religious doings back to the House of Israel. The Druids today are though to have quite a reputation of barbarianism, that was formed by their enemies, however don't judge any people by the reports of their enemies, for that is where modern ideas have come from. Here when Paul heard the similarities between the Ancient Israelite and Druid's ceremonies, and he could see the closeness they had to each other. Acts 29:14 "And Paul abode in his lodging three months, confirming in the faith and preaching Christ continually." This three months lodging follows the pattern of Paul's missionary journeys, such as that which we saw in Acts 28. Acts 29:15 "And after these things Paul and his brethern departed from Raphinus, and sailed unto Atium in Gaul. "Gaul" is in France. Acts 29:16 "And Paul preached in the Roman garrisons and among the people, exhorting all men to repent and confess their sins." We see from the rest of the chapter that Paul continued into many other nations as he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to many different nations, and multitudes came to repent of their sins, and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. In that first generation after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, the apostles and followers of Christ spread the Gospel into every corner of the earth. Acts 29:17 "And there came to him certain of the Belgae to enquire of him of the new doctrine, and of the man Jesus; and Paul opened his heart unto them, and told them all things that had befallen him, how be it that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and they departed, pondering among themselves upon the things which they had heard." Acts 29:18 "And after much preaching and toil Paul and his fellow labourers passed into Helvetia, and came unto Mount Pontius Pilate, where he who condemned the Lord Jesus dashed himself down headlong, and so miserably perished." Acts 29:19 "And immediately a torrent gushed out of the mountain and washed his broken in pieces into a lake." Acts 29:20 "And Paul stretched forth his hands upon the water, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, O Lord God give a sign unto all nations that here Pontius Pilate, which condemned thine only begotten Son, plunged headlong into the pit." Acts 29:21 "And while Paul was yet speaking, behold there came a great earthquake, and the face of the waters was changed, and the form of the lake like unto the Son of Man hanging in the agony upon the cross." Acts 29:22 "And a voice came out of heaven saying, Even Pilate hath escaped the wrath to come, for he washed his hands before the multitude at the blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus." Acts 29:23 "When, therefore, Paul and those that were with him saw the earthquake, and heard the voice of the angel, they glorified God, and were mightily strengthened in spirit." Acts 29:24 "And they journeyed and came to Mount Julius, where stood two pillars, one on the right hand and one on the left hand, erected by Caesar Augustus." Acts 29:25 "And Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, stood up between the two pillars, saying Men and brethren, these stones which ye see this day shall testify of my journey hence; and verily I say, they shall remain until the out pouring of the spirit upon all nations, neither shall the way be hindered throughout all generation." Acts 29:26 "And they went forth and came unto Illyricum, intending to go by Macedonia into Asia, and grace was found in all the churches; and they prospered and had peace. Amen." In every book that Paul wrote he ended it with the word "Amen". When we get to the end of the Book of Acts, the twenty eight chapter, we find no "Amen". Amen comes from the Hebrew # 543 in the Strong's Hebrew dictionary, and means "firm, trustworthy, true." Today you would say, you can count on it. Christianity traveled from Jerusalem to every part of the earth with people carrying the Word of God, either by written Word, of you mouth, teaching as they went.
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