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 they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. ​
2
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. ​
3
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. ​
7
In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. ​
8
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:
10
Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

Journey to Rome

11
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. ​
12
And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13
And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
14
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. ​
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And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. ​
16
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. ​

Paul Meets with Roman Jewish Leaders

17
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.
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But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
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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. ​
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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.
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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. ​
24
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
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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, ​
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Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
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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.
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Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. ​
29
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

The Gospel Unhindered in Rome

30
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, ​
31
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man 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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