39th & Last Occasion in Acts of the Greek word pisteuo, i.e., believe: The Kingdom Gospel to Israel set aside with the preaching of the Gospel of God’s Grace to Gentiles and Jews alike:

Our last study closed with King Agrippa telling Governor Festus that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar, he would have been set free because he had done nothing wrong, Acts 26:31 - 3231 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

. But Paul didn’t make a mistake in doing so because the Lord had a plan for him, and Paul’s appeal got him an armed escort voyage to Rome. The Lord Jesus Christ had appeared to Paul more than 2 years prior and told him that just as he had testified about Him in Jerusalem, he would do so in Rome, Acts 23:10 - 1110 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

. A Centurion named Julius took Paul, with his companions Dr. Luke and Aristarchus, and a number of other prisoners and boarded a ship for Italy, Acts 27:1 - 21 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

. (When subsequently shipwrecked on Malta, there were 276 people on that ship, Acts 27:33 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

737 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

.) The next day they arrived at the seaport town of Sidon where Julius let Paul visit friends unguarded, Acts 27:3. Then they sailed to the port of Myra on the coast of modern day Turkey, Acts 27:44 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.

, where Julius hired another ship to take them on to Italy. The winds were not favorable, but they finally arrived at Lesea on the southern coast of Crete, Acts 27:5 - 85 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

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They stayed in Lesea until after the Jew’s fast on the Day of Atonement, which occurs the last of our month September or the first of October. Winter storms begin on the Mediterranean at this time and Paul told those in charge that he perceived sailing would be very dangerous to the ship and passengers, Acts 27:9 - 109 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

but Julius “believed” the owner of the ship more than Paul, Acts 27:1111 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

. (The word “believed” here is not the same Greek word translated believe we are studying, which is pisteuo, G4000. The word here is “peitho,” G3882 found 55 times in the NT, most often translated “persuade,” “trust,” “obey,” “have confidence,” and only 3 times “believe,” all 3 in the KJV of Acts. Peitho is the same Greek word King Agrippa used when he told Paul he had almost “persuaded” him to be a Christian, Acts 26:2828 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

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The port at Lesea was not a good place to spend the winter, and as Julius was persuaded by the ship’s owner to sail, they decided to sail on to Phenice, a port west of Lesea, also on the south coast of Crete, where they would spend the winter. When a favorable wind came up, they sailed but soon encountered a very strong wind that caused huge waves making it impossible to steer the boat. It got so bad they had to tie ropes or chains from side to side around the bottom of the ship to keep the hull from being torn apart by the violent storm and take their sails down and let the boat run before the storm, Acts 27:12 - 1712 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

. The next day they had to throw out the cargo to lighten the ship in order to keep it afloat, and the day after they even had to throw out the ship’s rigging, Acts 27:18 - 1918 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

. After many days they lost all hope, not being able to see the sun or stars to navigate. Paul kept quiet for several days but finally reminded them that he had told them to stay in Lesea, however they should cheer up because an angel of the Lord, who he served, had advised him the ship was going to be lost but he had to be brought before Caesar and all on board were going to be safe, Acts 27:20 - 2420 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

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Then Paul uttered the Greek word “pisteuo” (G4000) translated “believe,” the 39th and last time it is found in Acts, saying “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.” Acts 27:25 - 2625 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

. By comparing the first occasion of the word “believe” in Acts to this, the last, we see another indication of the overall purpose of Acts; that being to document the setting aside of the Kingdom Gospel to the Nation of Israel and turn to the Gospel of God’s Grace to Gentiles and individual Jews, 1 Corinthians 12:1313 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

; Ephesians 3:1 - 91 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

. The first time believe occurs in Acts involves the Kingdom church, consisting entirely of Jews in Jerusalem who believed the Kingdom Gospel: “And all that believed were together and had all things common;” Acts 2:4444 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

. That Gospel was simply to believe Jesus was Israel’s Messiah and those Jews who believed waited in Jerusalem with Peter and the 11 for the Tribulation and the return of their Messiah, Acts 1:6 - 86 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

; 2:5 - 11; Acts 2:16 - 2116 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

. Jesus had promised Peter and the 11 that when He reigns as King, they will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 Tribes of Israel, so they waited in Jerusalem for that to happen. But when Israel as a whole rejected it by stoning Stephen, that Gospel was set aside, Acts 7:54 - 6054 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

. (See Faith Study Vol 4, No 5.) Almost 2000 years have passed since then, but someday in the future, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to Israel and establish His Kingdom on earth, just as God promised.

Upon Israel’s rejection of the Kingdom Gospel message, it and Peter fade from prominence in Acts as Paul rises to prominence, he being the Apostle to the Gentiles preaching the Gospel of Grace, 1 Corinthians 9:1 - 21 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

; Galatians 2:7 - 87 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

; Ephesians 3:1 - 71 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

; 1 Timothy 2:77 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

. (Faith Study Vol 4, No 4& 24.) Paul was as much an Apostle as Peter and thus did the signs of an Apostle. The Acts records Paul performing more miracles than Peter (Vol 4, No 28), the last three occurred here at the end of Acts;

1) an angel of God told Paul that all on board would be safe, Acts 27:22 - 2522 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

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2) Paul was bitten by a very poisonous snake but was unhurt, Acts 28:3 - 63 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

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3) Paul laid hands on the father of the Chief of Malta as well as others on the island, healing all of their illnesses, Acts 28:8 - 98 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

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The people of Malta took good care of Paul and everyone with him for three months before they sailed in another ship, Acts 28:10 - 1110 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

. In Rome Paul called together the Chief Jews to whom he preached the Gospel of Grace, Acts 28:17 - 2317 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

. Some were persuaded, “peitho” (G3882), (the same word used in Acts 26:28 & Acts 27:11) while some did not believe, the Greek word translated “not believe” is “apisteo” G569 from which we get our English word apostasy. “And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Acts 28:25 - 2725 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

. Here, Paul quotes from Isaiah 6:9 - 109 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

, this being the third and last time in the NT it is quoted; the first by Jesus, Matthew 13:14 - 1514 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

, Mark 4:1212 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

and Luke 8:1010 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

and second by the Apostle John, John 12:4040 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

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Paul turns from Israel to the Gentiles as he pronounces for the third and last time in Acts that the salvation of God was being sent to the Gentiles and they will hear it, Acts 28:2828 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

. The first time Paul said this was in Antioch, Pisidia where he pronounced to the Jews “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles,” Acts 13:45 - 4645 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

; the second was to the Jews in Corinth where “he (Paul) shook his raiment, and said unto them (the Jews), Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles,” Acts 18:5 - 65 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

. After these first two occasions he had never-the-less continued to minister to the Jews but now, in Rome, he proclaims it for the last time, Acts 28:28. In the book of Romans, chapters 9 through 11, Paul tells of his desire for his fellow countrymen to believe and be saved, even if he himself should be accursed, Romans 9:1 - 41 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

as well as the fact the Nation of Israel will be saved at some future time, Romans 11:25 - 2725 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

. (It has been almost 2000 years since Paul wrote these words, but God will keep His promise to the Nation of Israel and they will be a Nation of Priests to the entire world someday, Exodus 19:66 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

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Although Paul’s epistles proclaiming the Gospel of Grace are not addressed to the Nation of Israel, Paul clearly teaches that individual Jews are saved along with Gentiles who believe that Christ died, was buried and rose again, 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

. Both Jews and Gentiles who believe are declared to be Saints (set aside ones); members of the Body of Christ: “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23 - 2423 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 - 1412 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

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PS - This completes Volume 4. We have examined each of the 16 occurrences of the Greek word “pistis,” usually translated “faith,” and the 39 occurrences of the Greek word “pisteuo,” usually translated “believe,” in the book of Acts. Volume 5 will be launched next as we proceed through the Pauline epistles.