The Word Became Flesh

• 1. Today we finish up our Acts series. The title of today’s message is “Delivered,” and we will use the content from the final two chapters of Acts (27-28) as our base for exploring this theme.
  2. The Greek verb for “deliver” is sōzō. It can be translated in a variety of ways, depending on the context: “save” (e.g., Mt. 1:21, ESV), “deliver” (e.g., Lk. 8:36, CSB), “make well” (e.g., Mt. 9:22, ESV), “recover” (e.g., Jn. 11:12, ESV), “bring safely to” (e.g., 2 Ti. 4:18, NIV), “survive” (e.g., Mt. 24:22, NIV), “rescue” (e.g., Heb. 5:7, NLT), “heal” (e.g., Mt. 9:21, LEB), “spare” (e.g., the cognate verb at Ac. 27:43, NLT), “preserve” (2 Tim. 4:18, MEV).
  3. Jesus’ name in Hebrew (“Joshua”) means “Yahweh saves” (see HCSB footnote at Mt. 1:21), or “Yahweh is salvation”  

²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus (i.e., “the LORD saves,” NIV footnote), because he will save (Gk. sōzō) his people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21, NIV)

• 1. In Acts 27-28, sōzō-derived words appear eight times. It seems appropriate to conclude our Acts series by standing in awe before our great Deliverer and thanking Him for His saving acts.

• 1. “Yahweh saves” delivers at sea

¹⁸ Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day. ¹⁹ On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging. Finally all hope was fading that we would be saved (Gk. sōzō). ²¹ Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. ²² Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. ²³ For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me ²⁴ and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ (prayer/requesting implied here)  ²⁵ So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me. ²⁶ But we have to run aground on some island.”… ⁴⁴ The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached (Gk. diasōzō) the shore. (Ac. 27:18-26, 44 CSB)

• 1. “Yahweh saves” delivers on the island of Malta

¹ Once safely ashore (Gk. diasōzō; “having been saved” [YLT], “after our escape” [CJB]), we then learned that the island was called Malta. ² The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. ³ As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped (Gk. diasōzō) the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But he shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm (cf. Mk. 16:18). ⁶ They expected that he would begin to swell up or suddenly drop dead. After they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god (!!). ⁷ Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. ⁸ Publius’s father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him. ⁹ After this, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. (Ac. 27:1-9, CSB)

• 1. Paul finally makes it to Rome! He calls together the Jewish leaders, and here is what he tells them:

¹⁷ Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. ¹⁸ They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. ¹⁹ The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. ²⁰ For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”…²³ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God (previous content in Luke-Acts assumed), and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus (previous content in Luke-Acts assumed). ²⁴ Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe….²⁸ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation (Gk. to sōtērion, related to sōzō; focus on the means of salvation) has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” ^{[29] 30} For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹ He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! (Ac. 28:17-20, 23-24, 28-31, NIV)