The 29th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles

Where Scripture Ends – Acts 28:17-31:

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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.”
21
They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and
none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad
about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people
everywhere are talking against this sect.”
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, and from the Law of Moses and from the
Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what
he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and
began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke
the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
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“‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
28
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the
Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29]

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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!

Where Acts 29 “Begins”:

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.”

Acts 29:2 “For he had heard in Phoenicia 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.”

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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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. He preached Christ
unto them, and many believed the word and the testimony of Jesus”. (St Paul’s
Cathedral stands today at Ludgate hill in London.)

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,
their 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 testifies to the
patience and long-suffering of a servant of the Lord.”

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.”

Acts 29:12 “In those days there shall be wars and rumors of wars; and a King
shall rise up, and his sword shall be for the healing of the nations, and his
peacemaking shall abide, and the glory of his Kingdom a wonder among princes.”

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 things, and he gave them the kiss of peace.”

Acts 29:14 “Paul stayed and lived there for three months. He was confirmed in the
faith; and preached Christ continually.”

Acts 29:15 “And after these things, Paul and his brethren departed from Raphinus;
and sailed unto Atium in Gaul.

Acts 29:16 “And Paul preached in the Roman garrisons and among the people,
exhorting all men to repent and confess their sins.”

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.”

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Acts 29:18 “And after much preaching and toil Paul and his fellow laborers
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
body, 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 outpouring 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.”

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A Little Background:
The 29th Chapter of the Book of Acts is also called the
Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Unlike its
extra-canonical counterparts that we have studied in
weeks past this text was found on its own amid other
writings of the French naturalist Sonnini de Manoncourt.
Sonnini’s journal indicates that this lost chapter was
found amid the archives of Constantinople and presented
to him by the Sultan of Turkey Abdoul Achmet
sometime around the 18th century. The original Greek
Manuscript has never surfaced only the English version,
which was found in the library of prominent Englishman, Sir John Newport.
Looking at the text in its entirety we see that the writing itself seems to be written
in the style of Acts and reads like a continuation of it. Commentators point out that
the Roman and Greek names listed are also in their ancient forms – Helvetia,
Belgae, and Lud. This helps somewhat with its authenticity as the original
transcript would have been written in Greek. Also, its supposed place of rest in the
Archives of Constantinople means it would have remained untouched by Western
canonical writers.
There are both scriptural and ancient historic writings that support Paul’s journey
to Spain and Britain. In 2 Timothy 4:6 we read, “When Paul was sent by Festus on
his appeal to Rome, he traveled, after being acquitted into Spain, thence extended
his travels into other countries and the islands surrounded by the sea.” We also
read in historical texts from Theodoret the Bishop of Cyrus that, “Paul, liberated
from his first captivity at Rome, preached the Gospel to Britons and others in the
West. Our fishermen and publican not only persuaded the Romans and their
tributaries to acknowledge the Crucified and His laws, but the Britons also and the
Cimbri.” Next, Eusebius who was the Bishop of Caesarea wrote, “The Apostles
(writing about Paul) passed beyond the ocean to the isles called the Britannic
Isles.”
It is understood that there is a five or six year gap between the last recorded actions
of Paul in Acts and his death at the hand of Nero in 67. Having been acquitted in
Rome the first time, it is quite possible that Paul could have spent time visiting
both Spain and the British Isles. Knowing the many missionary journeys which

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Paul embarked on in his life, five years does seem quite a long time for someone to
sit in his house writing letters.

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Commentator’s Thoughts for Authenticity (Ronald L. Hall,
www.rejectedscriptures.com):
1. It being preserved in the Archives of Constantinople.

2. It has all the appearances of being of an ancient date.

3. It is written in Greek, and in the manner of the Acts.

4. The places and peoples mentioned are called by their ancient Roman names.

5. Its Scriptural brevity and conception of the Divine purpose and plan.

6. Its Gospel-like character is dignified and spiritual.

7. Its prophetic expressions are in a Biblical style.

8. Its ending in the word "amen." (The Biblical Acts of the Apostles and the Book
of James are the only two New Testament Books not ending in "amen." This has
led some Bible scholars to believe they are incomplete in their present form).