Paul and all of his shipmates are safely delivered to Malta and they are greeted kindly by the local inhabitants. We learn something about local beliefs as Paul is bitten by a viper in Acts 28:4 they began saying to one another, “Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, although he was rescued from the sea, Justice has not permitted to live!”. But Paul didn’t die, a witness to them of God’s healing power. God continues to demonstrate healing as Paul prays for their sick and they recover. As spring arrives, Paul and his centurion guard make their way toward Rome. Paul is received by Christians along the way and is allowed house arrest when he arrives in Rome. And after reaching out to the Jews, in Acts 28:23 testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.”, until in Acts 28:25–27 So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers” and then in Acts 28:30–31 So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
We Were Being Driven in the Sea
Acts 27:27–38
All Were Brought Safely to the Land
Justice Has Not Permitted to Live!
Acts 28:1–10
As local inhabitants rose that morning, they found Paul and all of his shipmates, in
Acts 27:37 (Now we were in all two hundred seventy six persons on the ship.)
had washed ashore from their ship which had stuck fast in the sand and broken apart in the storm. You can imagine the captain and the centurion searching to see who survived as the local people do what they can to help in
Acts 28:2 And the local inhabitants showed extraordinary kindness to us, for they lit a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold.
Then, Paul is bitten in
Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
The local people are, as many are also today, somewhat superstitious and see this as a sign, a judgment of God against Paul in
Acts 28:4 And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, although he was rescued from the sea, Justice has not permitted to live!”
but Paul didn’t die so now they perceive him to be a god because no one can live after this snake bite in
Acts 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly to fall down dead. So after they had waited for a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began saying that he was a god.
What was meant for Paul’s destruction, their failed voyage, bitten by a poisonous snake, all God turned to good as Paul prayed and the father of the chief official healed, and in
Acts 28:9 And after this had taken place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases were coming and being healed also.
We Found Brothers
Because of the Hope of Israel
Acts 28:17–22
As Paul arrives in Rome, he has found Christian brothers that welcome him, but as he calls together “the most prominent of the Jews” in Acts 28:17, they have no knowledge of what has happened to him in
Acts 28:21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.
Paul explains to them “Men and brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, were wanting to release me, because there was no basis for an accusation worthy of death with me. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar” in Acts 28:17–19. Paul sums it up this way in
Acts 28:20 Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!”
They have heard people speaking against “this sect” so respond in
Acts 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.
The Holy Spirit Spoke Rightly
Acts 28:23–31
Paul has great freedom to receive people as he is under what we would call house arrest. Many come to hear him in
Acts 28:23 And when they had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.
and as always happens with this message of Jesus Christ, in
Acts 28:24 And some were convinced by what was said, but others refused to believe.
Finally, Paul speaks to those disputing, the ones that “refused to believe” in
Acts 28:25 So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers,
and then Paul quotes Isaiah 6:9–10 in
Acts 28:26–27 saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing and will never understand, and you will keep on seeing and will never perceive. 27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” ’
But God will have for himself a people of every nation, every tongue and Paul finishes his appeal to the Jews with this statement in
Acts 28:28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!”
Study Verses
- Acts 28:1–10 Justice Has Not Permitted to Live!
- Acts 28:17–22 Because of the Hope of Israel
- Acts 28:23–31 The Holy Spirit Spoke Rightly
Today’s Reading
- Acts 27:27-44
- Acts 28:1-31
