Acts 28
2801-2810
2801-2802 All who were on the ship made it safely to the shore of Malta, just as Paul had said would
happen previously (2724, 34). The people that lived on the island showed them kindness because it was
cold and rainy by building a fire so they could keep warm
2802-2806 Paul got a bundle of sticks to throw on the fire. When he threw them in the fire, a viper
came from the vicinity of the fire and grabbed a hold of his hand. The men that lived on the island saw
this happen, and watched in anticipation of justice to be served to this “murderer.”
Paul shook the viper off of his hand into the fire, and amazingly nothing happened to him. The natives of
Malta knew what happened to people when these snakes bit them; they either swell up or fall over
dead because of the poison (2806).
They waited a long time, just watching Paul to see if anything would happen to him, but nothing does,
Paul is not harmed at all. Now, instead of believing that he is a murderer, they believe he is a god! This is
not the first time someone believed this about Paul (Acts 14 in Lystra).
2807-2709 One of the leading men of island, Publius, also received Paul and the other men from the
ship with kindness, showing them hospitality for 3 days.
We find out that Publius’ father was sick at this time with a fever. Paul went into where he was, prayed,
laid his hands on him, and healed him of his fever.
The news about this healing spread throughout the whole island (18miles long by 8 miles wide), and
everyone else on the island that had any king of disease came to Paul and got healed.
2710 The people of the island bestowed “honors” to the men in giving them all that they needed for
their trip to Rome. I’m sure this was an encouragement to Paul considering how the last 2 years or so
had gone. Though it took a shipwreck to get Paul to Malta, he was able to bring glory to God and he had
no opposition.
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2811-2831
Acts 28
2811 They remained on the island for 3 months till the winter passed, then left Malta to head towards
Rome on a ship that had been at Malta for the winter. This may have been sometime in early February
when it first becomes safe to sail once again. I’m sure they didn’t want to get off the island sooner and
risk another shipwreck.
Julius probably found this ship for Paul and the other prisoners to sail on as he had done previously in
Malta (27:5-6)
The figurehead of the boat: the twin brothers? The Greek word here is "the dioskouri," which is
speaking of the mythical twin sons of Zeus, pagan deities called Castor and Pollux that were honored
especially by sailors.
2812 They sailed to Syracuse on the Island of Sicily, which was about a 90 mile trip from Malta. They
stayed there for 3 days, quite possibly because of either wind conditions or the ship that they were on
was conducting business there for 3 days.
2813-2815 They then sailed to Rhegium and stayed for a day until a favorable south wind came so
they could sail north about 180 miles to Puteoli, which probably took over a day to sail. Puteoli was one
of the main ports that Alexandria ships went to to sell their products to Rome and its surrounding cities.
So Paul and his companions along with Julius, his men, and the other prisoners got off the ship at
Puteoli. We are told that they found brethren in Puteoli that invited them to stay with them for seven
days. Whether they invited just Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus; or all the men that accompanied them is
unknown. It is interesting though that Julius would allow Paul who was a prisoner to do this if it just was
the 3 that stayed with Christians for 7 days.
This is the only other mention in the New Testament about another congregation in Italy other than the
congregation in Rome.
After the 7 days, they departed for Rome. It seems that the news that Paul was on his way to Rome
reached the church at Rome before Paul arrived. Quite possibly the brethren from Puteoli forwarded
him when he got to Appii Forum (NKJV)/ Market of Appius (NASB); about 43 miles from Rome, and
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It appears that there were 2 groups of brethren that met Paul on his journey to Rome. One group met
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the news to Rome, and the brethren from Rome came to meet Paul.
Acts 28
another group met him at Three Inns, about 10 miles closer to Rome. Paul was encouraged by their
company, and it is quite possible that they accompanied Paul to Rome.
2816 The Lord fulfilled His word to Paul by getting Paul to Rome! I’m sure the circumstances of his
arrival weren’t quite the same as when he wrote to the Roman congregation from Corinth on his 3rd
journey, but nonetheless he had made it.
He was not taken where the other prisoners who had sailed to Rome with him were, but he was taken
off by himself with a soldier that guarded him into his owned rented house.
2817-2820 After Paul was in Rome for 3 days, he called for the Jewish leadership in Rome to come to
him.
He tells them exactly what had happened in Jerusalem that led to his being arrested and sent to Rome.
Paul had done nothing against God or Moses, yet he was still arrested and delivered to the Romans
where he was not justly judged by Felix or Festus to the point where Paul had to make an appeal to
Caesar to save his life. Festus knew that Paul was innocent and was not worthy of either death or
imprisonment, but would not let him go.
2820 Paul once again makes the claim that the reason why he stood before them in chains was because
of the hope of Israel. (Speaking of the resurrection: (cf. 2606; 2421; 2306))
2821-2822 The Jews answered Paul by saying that they had not received any letters from Jerusalem
about Paul or had anyone come to Rome to speak anything against Paul. And unlike the Jews in
Jerusalem, the Jews at Rome were willing to give Paul an ear. They wanted to hear more about this
“sect” that is being spoken against all over the Roman empire.
2823 They arranged a second meeting and a large amount of people came to hear Paul preach the
gospel. He as his custom with the Jews tried to persuade them from Moses and the Prophets about
Jesus Christ. He preached from morning till evening that day.
2824-2825 There was a mixed reaction to Paul’s message of the day… some were persuaded, but
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persuaded by the gospel.
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others were not. There seems to have been some kind of debate among those who were and were not
Acts 28
2826-2827 Paul quoted one last text before this meeting adjourned. (Isaiah 6:9-10
2828 Even though the some of the Jews would not listen to and heed the words that Paul had
preached, he makes the bold affirmation to the Jews “The Gentiles will hear it!” What a fitting ending to
the book of Acts that has showed us just that!
2829 Some manuscripts do not contain this verse
2830-2831 Even though he would be a prisoner, he would be able to preach the gospel in Rome to all
who would come to him.
With so many obstacles that Paul faced during his 3 missionary journeys and all the way up to his
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entrance to Rome, now he would preach the gospel to any who would hear it unhindered.