Acts 28
Big idea: From Malta's fire to a rented house in Rome, every obstacle — viper, winter, unbelief itself — fails to stop the word. Paul reaches the capital 'because of the hope of Israel', and when his own people divide over Jesus, Isaiah's verdict sends the salvation of God to the nations. Luke's last line is not a conclusion but a status report: God's Kingdom preached 'with all boldness, without hindrance.'
There is no next chapter — deliberately. The book ends mid-mission: Jesus' program of 1:8 ('to the uttermost parts of the earth') has reached Rome but not its end, and the unhindered word in Paul's rented house hands the witness on to the reader. Acts stops; the story it tells does not.
28:1–6 — Malta: kindness, a viper, and a wrong verdict twice
The escaped company learns the island is Malta, where the natives show 'uncommon kindness' — a fire against the rain and cold. Then a viper, driven out by the heat, fastens on Paul's hand, and the natives read it as Justice catching a murderer the sea had missed. Paul shakes the creature into the fire and is not harmed; watching long and seeing nothing bad happen, they swing to the opposite verdict: 'he was a god.'
1 When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us uncommon 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 because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” 5 However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. 6 But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
28:7–10 — Publius: healing and honor
Publius, the chief man of the island, entertains the company courteously for three days. His father lies sick with fever and dysentery; Paul enters, prays, lays hands on him, and heals him — and then 'the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured.' The islanders honor the travelers with many honors and outfit the ship with all they need.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days. 8 The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9 Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured. 10 They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.
28:11–16 — So we came to Rome
After three months they sail in an Alexandrian ship that wintered at Malta — figurehead 'The Twin Brothers' — by Syracuse and Rhegium to Puteoli, where brothers entreat them to stay seven days. 'So we came to Rome.' Believers walk out as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns to meet Paul, and 'when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.' In Rome he is allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guards him.
11 After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.” 12 Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. 15 From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
28:17–22 — The hope of Israel, and this chain
Within three days Paul convenes the leaders of Rome's Jews and gives his account: he did nothing against the people or the customs of the fathers, the Romans examined him and wished to release him, and only Jewish opposition constrained the appeal to Caesar — 'not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation.' The heart of it: 'because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.' They reply that no letters or reports have reached them, but they want to hear him — 'for, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.'
17 After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation. 20 For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” 21 They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
28:23–29 — The Kingdom explained; Isaiah's verdict
On the appointed day many come to Paul's lodging, and from morning until evening he testifies about God's Kingdom, 'persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.' The result splits: 'Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.' As they leave disagreeing, Paul speaks one message — the Holy Spirit's word through Isaiah about hearing without understanding and hearts grown callous — and draws the consequence: 'the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.'
23 When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive. 27 For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’ 28 “Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.” 29 When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
28:30–31 — Unhindered
Two whole years in his own rented house, receiving all who come, 'preaching God's Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.' No verdict from Caesar is recorded; Luke ends not with Paul's fate but with the word's freedom.
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him, 31 preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).