Acts28

After a shipwreck, Paul and his companions landed on Melita, where Paul miraculously survived a viper's bite and healed many islanders. Continuing their journey, they arrived in Rome, where Paul met with Jewish leaders, explaining his appeal and testifying concerning Jesus. Despite some Jewish unbelief, Paul declared God's salvation would now go to the Gentiles. For two years, Paul freely preached the Kingdom of God in Rome, unhindered.
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Paul Shipwrecked on Malta

1
And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. ​
2
And the barbarians showed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. ​
3
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand. ​
4
And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live. ​
5
Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.
6
But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. ​
7
Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius; who received us, and entertained us three days courteously. ​
8
And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him. ​
9
And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured:
10
who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.

Journey to Rome

11
And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers. ​
12
And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13
And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli;
14
where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome. ​
15
And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. ​
16
And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him. ​

Paul Meets with Roman Jewish Leaders

17
And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans: ​
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who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.
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But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not that I had aught whereof to accuse my nation.
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For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. ​
21
And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judæa concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee.
22
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against. ​
23
And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening. ​
24
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
25
And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers, ​
26
saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
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For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
28
Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear. ​
29
Not present in the manuscripts this translation follows.

The Gospel Unhindered in Rome

30
And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him, ​
31
preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him. ​

Study Notes for Acts 28

Verse 1

Melita is modern Malta, an island south of Sicily. This section details the events of the three months Paul and his companions spent there waiting for winter to pass.

Verse 2

The term 'barbarous people' (Gk. *barbaroi*) does not imply savagery, but simply refers to people who did not speak Greek or Latin, showing Luke’s accurate use of Roman terminology.

Verse 3

This incident recalls the promise of protection given by Christ (Mark 16:18). The viper incident served as immediate confirmation of Paul’s divine authority to the inhabitants of the island.

Verse 4

The islanders immediately assumed Paul was guilty of a capital crime. They believed the goddess Dike (Vengeance or Justice) had preserved him from the sea only to ensure he suffered a more painful, certain death.

Verse 6

Their reaction shifted rapidly from viewing Paul as a wicked murderer to viewing him as a god, illustrating the superstition and fickle nature of pagan religious belief.

Verse 7

Publius is identified as the 'chief man' (Gk. *protos*) of the island. Inscriptions found on Malta confirm that this was the official title of the Roman governor or magistrate there, demonstrating Luke’s historical accuracy.

Verse 8

Paul’s ministry on Malta mirrors that of Jesus and the apostles: preaching accompanied by signs. He first prayed, then used the physical sign of laying on hands to effect the healing.

Verse 11

The ship had the figurehead of Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri), twin gods revered by sailors as protectors. Luke notes this common detail of first-century maritime life.

Verse 14

The presence of 'brethren' (believers) in Puteoli, a major port, illustrates the widespread, organic growth of Christianity throughout the empire even before Paul reached Rome.

Verse 15

Appii forum and The three taverns were two well-known post-stops on the Appian Way. The Roman Christians traveled a great distance (40-50 miles) to welcome Paul, which greatly encouraged him.

Verse 16

Paul was placed under 'house arrest' (*custodia libera*), a privileged status likely due to the lack of serious charges against him and his Roman citizenship. This allowed him freedom to receive visitors and minister.

Verse 17

Paul follows his usual custom of first addressing the Jewish community, ensuring they heard the gospel directly from him and understood the nature of his arrest.

Verse 20

Paul clarifies that his imprisonment is not for political crimes but for believing in the 'hope of Israel'—the fulfillment of the messianic promises and the resurrection of the dead, realized in Jesus.

Verse 22

The Jewish leaders refer to Christianity as 'this sect' (Gk. *hairesis*). Their statement confirms that Christianity was widely known, and widely maligned, throughout the diaspora.

Verse 23

Paul’s persistent method was to demonstrate from the Mosaic Law and the Prophets that Jesus was the promised Messiah who inaugurated the Kingdom of God. This debate lasted all day.

Verse 25

When the Jews disagreed, Paul used the prophecy of Isaiah 6:9-10, echoing Jesus’s own use of the passage (Matt 13:14) to explain why some hearts remained willfully hardened to the message.

Verse 28

This statement is a climactic summary of the theological turning point in Acts. Paul formally declares the redirection of the gospel from the largely resistant Jewish nation to the receptive Gentile world.

Verse 30

Paul’s two years in Rome covered the period before the presumed trial before Caesar (likely postponed or delayed). During this time, he wrote important letters, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

Verse 31

The final verse emphasizes the core themes of Acts: the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the teaching of Jesus Christ, done 'with all confidence, no man forbidding him.' The book ends on a note of triumph—the gospel has reached the capital of the world and is advancing unhindered.

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