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The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 28:1–31 Kindly Treated a Miracle and Healings 28:1 After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. After their miraculous deliverance from the storm and shipwreck they discovered that they had landed on the island of Malta. 28:2 The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold. The people of the island showed great kindness to Paul and all that were with him they made them quite welcome and lit a fire too warm and dry them out. 28:3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. Paul had gathered a bundle of wood and had just laid it upon the fire when a viper came out of it because of the heat and fastened itself around Paul’s hand. 28:4 When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul's hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!" Seeing this happen the superstitious local people believing that the poisonous snake had bitten Paul and thus death would certainly follow said that he must be a murderer who although having escaped from the sea was now receiving his just punishment! 28:5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. Paul showed no fear of this creature but just shook it off into the fire hereby fulfilling the promise that the Lord gave to His disciples (Mark 16:18). 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
They waited in expectation to see the normal reactions from this kind of snake bite, that was to swell up and then suddenly drop down dead. They waited a long time to see this happen but when it didn’t they changed their minds and said he was a God. 28:7 Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. The country near the shore where they had landing was an estate belonging to Publius the governor of the island. He also welcomed and kindly entertained them for three days in his home 28:8 The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him. The father of Publius was lying very sick in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and laying hands upon him prayed for his recovery and he was healed (Mark 16:18). 28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. After this happened the other people on the island who were sick came to Paul and were healed. 28:10 They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed. They people along with their governor showed great respect and gratitude to Paul and his companions and gave them all the supplies they needed.
Paul Finally Reaches Rome 28:11 After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the "Heavenly Twins" as its figurehead. After three months on Malta they boarded a ship from Alexandria that had over wintered on the island. The wooden figurehead of the ship was images of the gods Castor and Pollux supposed to be twin sons of Jupiter. “They are fabled to have been transported to heaven, and made constellations under the name of Gemini, or the Twins” (Barnes). 28:12–13 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli. Their first port of call was Syracuse where they stayed for three days. From there they went to Rhegium a city in the southwest extremity of Italy in the kingdom of Naples. A day later a south wind began blowing so the day after they sailed on to Puteoli another seaport of Naples. 28:14 There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. In this place they found some fellow Christians who invited them to spend seven days with them and from there eventually reached Rome. 28:15 The brothers from there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
When the brothers and sisters in Rome heard that Paul and his companions had arrived they went out to meet them at the Appias Market on the Appian Way about fifty miles distance and others at the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them he thanked God and was encouraged by them. 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. When they arrived in Rome Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging although he was guarded by soldiers.
Paul Introduces himself to the Jews in Rome 28:17 After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, "Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. Three days after their arrival Paul called the local Jewish leaders together to explain to them why he was a prisoner in Rome. He made it quite clear that he had not done anything against the customs of their ancestors yet he was turned over as a prisoner to the Romans. 28:18 When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. When the Roman authorities had heard his case they had wanted to release him because there was no case for the death sentence against him. 28:19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar — not that I had some charge to bring against my own people. Because the Jews in Jerusalem had fiercely objected to this Paul was forced into the position of appealing to Caesar this was not because he had any charge to make against his own people, 28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel." It was for this purpose he wanted to meet with them to explain to them that he was bound by chains for the Hope of Israel, the coming of the Messiah. 28:21 They replied, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said anything bad about you. On hearing this they told him that they had not received any letters from Judea about him and that none of the Jewish brethren coming there had reported anything against him. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it." They had however heard about the movement concerning Jesus Christ and that people everywhere were speaking against it.
Paul Proclaims the Kingdom of God 28:23 They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets. A day was set and a great number of Jews came to where Paul was staying to hear him. From early morning till late at night Paul explained to them and testified about the kingdom of God endeavoring to convince them about the truth of who the Lord Jesus Christ is from the law of Moses and the prophets. 8:24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah Some of them were convinced by what Paul had said but others refused to believe so they were unable to agree among themselves and began to leave. Before they left Paul made one last statement about them that the Holy Spirit had rightly spoken through the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6: 9 - 10). 28:26 when he said, 'Go to this people and say, "You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive. Through His prophet God had told Isaiah to go to His people and tell them that although they will keep on hearing His words they will never understand them because of unbelief they will keep searching the scriptures but will never understand the truth because of their hardened hearts. 28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them." ' Spiritually their hearts are hardened they have become deaf and blind so they cannot see, hear or understand or believe in their hearts what God is saying to them. They will not repent and turn to Him and receive His forgiveness and healing. 28:28 "Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!" So Paul told them that this salvation that comes from God through His son Jesus Christ has been sent to the Gentiles who will hear and believe and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. When the Jews heard these words they departed greatly disputing among themselves. 28:30 Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, Paul lived for two years in his own rented quarters and welcome everyone who came to him. 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction. During this time he continually proclaimed the Gospel Message and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ without fear in great boldness and without any restriction by the Roman authorities. Later however he was treated as criminal and was more closely guarded and restricted. We know from the letters that he wrote to the various churches and individuals while a prisoner that he led many to received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour befriended many needy people and continued to teach and instruct in the Word of God person to person and
Through these letters. He not only preached Christ but lived Christ. Finally Paul was beheaded in Rome by Nero A.D. 67 or 68. He wrote to Timothy “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:7–8) © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2015 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org