Acts 28:1-31
—Verse by verse
This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 28:1-31. These verses describe Paul’s stay on Malta, the journey from Malta to Rome, and a little of his work in Rome.
Paul’s Journey to Rome Ends
Acts 28:1-31
¶“1After everyone had got to shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The natives treated us with great kindness. It was raining and cold, so they kindled a fire, and welcomed us all. 3Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire. A venomous snake came out, disturbed by the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4When the natives saw the creature hanging on his hand, they said among themselves, 'No doubt this man is a murderer; he has escaped the sea; yet Justice won't let him live.' 5However Paul shook off the snake into the fire, and suffered no harm. 6The natives expected Paul to swell up or drop dead, but after they had observed him for a long time, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.” (Acts 28:1-6).
¶“7The governor of the island had his property in that area. His name was Publius. He welcomed us courteously, and gave us lodging for three days. 8The father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went into him; prayed; laid hands on him; and healed him. 9After this was done, other sick people of the island came, and were healed. 10They honoured us in many ways; and later, when we departed, they loaded us up with everything we needed.” (Acts 28:7-10).
¶“11It was three months later that we set sail in a ship of Alexandria. It had wintered in the isle. The Twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux, were its figurehead. 12We landed at Syracuse, and waited there three days. 13From there we tacked to Rhegium. A day later the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli. 14There we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them. We did so for seven days and then set off toward Rome. 15The brethren from Rome heard that we were coming. They came as far as Appii Forum and The three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and was encouraged. 16Upon our arrival in Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard. However Paul was permitted to have his own house with a soldier guarding him.” (Acts 28:11-16).
¶“17Three days later, Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they had assembled, Paul said to them, 'Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or the customs of our forefathers, yet I was taken prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18When the Romans examined me, they would have released me, because there was no cause of death in me. 19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal Caesar —not that I have any accusation against my nation. 20So I have called for you, to meet and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.' 21Paul’s visitors replied, 'We received no letters from Judaea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren from there spoken ill of you. 22However we want to hear your views, because we know that this sect is spoken against everywhere.' (Acts 28:17-22).
¶“23Paul’s Jewish visitors made an appointment with him for another day, when many came to him at his lodgings. Paul explained and testified about the kingdom of God, persuading them about Jesus, from the law of Moses, and from the prophets. Paul spoke from morning till evening. 24Some believed what Paul said; others were not persuaded.” (Acts 28:23-24).
¶“25Disagreeing among themselves, the Jewish company began leaving after Paul made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke to our forefathers through the prophet Isaiah, 26'Go to this people, and say, you shall keep hearing but not understand; you will keep seeing and not perceive; 27for the heart of this people has become dull, their ears can hardly hear, and they have shut their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, be converted, and I should heal them.' 28So let it be known to you that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.' 29When Paul had said these words, the Jews departed, still disputing among themselves.” (Acts 28:25-29).
¶“30In Rome, Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all who came in to visit him. 31Paul was preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. He was doing this quite openly and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:30-31).
1 Paul’s Stay on Malta After the Shipwreck.
Verses 1-6
¶ "After everyone had got to shore, we found out that the island was called Melita. The natives treated us with great kindness. It was raining and cold, so they kindled a fire, and welcomed us all. Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire. A venomous snake came out, disturbed by the heat, and fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging on his hand, they said among themselves, “No doubt this man is a murderer; he has escaped the sea; yet Justice won't let him live.” However Paul shook off the snake into the fire, and suffered no harm. The natives expected Paul to swell up or drop dead, but after they had observed him for a long time, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." (Acts 28:1-6).
- Melita. Now called Malta, this island south of Italy was populated by “Barbarians” who were nevertheless civilised in their way. They put themselves to considerable expense and inconvenience to care for a sudden influx of 276 people who had nothing but the clothes they had swum to shore in.
- Justice. These “Barbarians” also had a good sense of justice, supported by religious beliefs. Perhaps they conceived of justice as a god who saw to it that criminals received just punishment even if they seemed to escape it.
- Unharmed by the snake. The islanders would certainly know a deadly serpent when they saw one. They quite properly expected Paul to die quickly. But the miracle followed Paul as Jesus had promised: "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:17-18).
Verses 7-10
¶ "The governor of the island had his property in that area. His name was Publius. He welcomed us courteously, and gave us lodging for three days. The father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul went into him; prayed; laid hands on him; and healed him. After this was done, other sick people of the island came, and were healed. They honoured us in many ways; and later, when we departed, they loaded us up with everything we needed." (Acts 28:7-10).
- Were there converts? Since Paul spent three months on Malta, and had performed these miracles, you would expect a church to have formed there. With his gift of tongues Paul would even have been able to preach to the islanders in their native language. Tradition has it that Paul and Publius did form a church in Malta. However it's a mystery why Luke makes no mention of preaching to these people and making disciples among them.
2 From Malta to Rome
Verses 11-16
¶ "It was three months later that we set sail in a ship of Alexandria. It had wintered in the isle. The Twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux, were its figurehead. We landed at Syracuse, and waited there three days. From there we tacked to Rhegium. A day later the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli. There we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them. We did so for seven days and then set off toward Rome. The brethren from Rome heard that we were coming. They came as far as Appii Forum and The three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and was encouraged. Upon our arrival in Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard. However Paul was permitted to have his own house with a soldier guarding him." (Acts 28:11-16).
- Paul thanked God. Word of Paul’s arrival spread quickly among the Christians in Italy, and those in Rome came out to meet him. Paul probably feared that he would be a stranger in the city, but people cared. Paul thanked God for the encouragement this gesture lent him.
3 Paul’s Ministry in Rome
Verses 17-22
¶ "Three days later, Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they had assembled, Paul said to them, “Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or the customs of our forefathers, yet I was taken prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When the Romans examined me, they would have released me, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal Caesar —not that I have any accusation against my nation. So I have called for you, to meet and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” Paul’s visitors replied, “We received no letters from Judaea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren from there spoken ill of you. However we want to hear your views, because we know that this sect is spoken against everywhere.” " (Acts 28:17-22).
- Jewish leaders visit Paul. Paul could not go to the synagogue because he had an uncircumcised Roman chained to him. So instead he had the synagogue leaders come to him. Paul was probably anxious to know how things stood between him and his Jewish brethren, especially to guage whether his enemies in Jerusalem had been active in Rome. However, the Jews in Rome held nothing against him, and even wished to hear his account of this “sect” that was so much spoken against.
Verses 23-24
¶ "Paul’s Jewish visitors made an appointment with him for another day, when many came to him at his lodgings. Paul explained and testified about the kingdom of God, persuading them about Jesus, from the law of Moses, and from the prophets. Paul spoke from morning till evening. Some believed what Paul said; others were not persuaded." (Acts 28:23-24).
- Morning to evening. Paul and his visitors were used to lengthy discussions. There was nothing unusual about spending a whole day talking and debating about the scriptures. Today we, with our twenty minute sermons, and forty minute Bible classes, cannot cover much ground.
- From Moses and the Prophets. As always, Paul preaches and proves from the scriptures. Paul was not one of those who say, “God has spoken to me and given me a message for you.” God had spoken to Paul, but Paul in his preaching explained from the Scriptures all things concerning Christ.
Verses 25-28
¶ "Disagreeing among themselves, the Jewish company began leaving after Paul made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke to our forefathers through the prophet Isaiah, 'Go to this people, and say, you shall keep hearing but not understand; you will keep seeing and not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, their ears can hardly hear, and they have shut their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, be converted, and I should heal them.' So let it be known to you that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it.” When Paul had said these words, the Jews departed, still disputing among themselves." (Acts 28:25-29, Isaiah 6:9-10).
- Disputing among themselves. The Jewish leaders probably spent far too much energy on disputing. Some probably appreciated Christianity as another opportunity to debate. However Paul hadn't wasted his day, because some believed even if others were intractable.
Verses 30-31
¶ "In Rome, Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all who came in to visit him. Paul was preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. He was doing this quite openly and without hindrance. " (Acts 28:30-31).
- Without hindrance. Although he was chained to a guard most of the time, Paul was treated with respect by the Roman soldiers and in no way hindered in his desire to preach. The Jews in Rome did not mistreat him or wish to kill him as their brethren in Jerusalem had done. It was by God’s grace that Paul enjoyed these comforts after he had endured so much hardship, danger, and frustration. Paul made many disciples even among Caesar’s own household (Philippians 4:22)..
END OF THE SIXTH SECTION OF ACTS
Luke concludes his description of the spread of Christianity by leaving us with Paul working in Rome. Of course Christianity spread much further afield, “even to the remotest parts of the earth” as Jesus said (Acts 1:8). Luke, however, stops his narative here, and we can only wish that he had told us more.