READ | ACTS CHAPTER 28
Paul Ashore on Malta
1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Paul’s Arrival at Rome
11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29] [b]
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Paul’s Arrival at Rome
11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29] [b]
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
DEVOTIONAL
Once again, God takes a horrible situation and uses it for His purposes. Paul, along with 276 other men have been shipwrecked on the southern shores of the island of Malta. It is cold, wet and they must gather wood to start a fire. On top of that, a poisonous snake fastened itself to Paul’s hand. The natives were convinced that Paul was a murderer who was being shown justice. Why else would he be saved from the storms only to be killed by a viper? They were actually correct. Paul was in fact a murderer. Yet the justice of our God does not work this way. Jesus had already paid for Paul’s sin. “Divine Justice” had no more claim against Paul – it had all been satisfied by Jesus’ work on the cross. Therefore, Paul shook the poisonous snake of his hand and continued his work.
Soon after, the crew realized they were on the island of Malta, just off the southern tip of Italy. The southern portion of the island was largely uninhabited except for local natives, but the northern portion of the island was well populated and a key Roman trading port. The men are even welcomed into the estate of the leading citizen and representative of Rome on the island, a man by the name of Publius, whose father was very sick. Most likely, he was stricken with a malady known as Malta fever, which is very serious, and came from a bacterial microorganism found in the milk of Maltese goats. Paul lays his hands on, prays for, and heals this man’s father in the name of Jesus. God has power even over the microscopic. Over the next three months, many people on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. It’s amazing to think that without the storm and the shipwreck, none of those people would have been brought before Paul. We would not have these incredible stories to read. God truly can take whatever comes at us and use it for his glory. He only requires men and women who are faithful and willing to be used by him in every situation.
Once winter had ended, the final leg of the journey to Rome was made. It is only reasonable that the Christian community in Rome would be worried about Paul and Luke. They knew the duo had sailed for Rome, yet after many months had not arrived. What a relief when news came that Paul and Luke were still alive and well, preaching the good news and healing people with only a word. The Christian church honored Paul by greeting him as the emperors were greeted when returning from battle. They went out to meet him as he came into the city, walking the long 43-mile journey to the Appii Forum to welcome Paul, Luke, and all the survivors of the shipwreck, people now very grateful these men of God had been on board. The Christian Church in Rome had received Paul’s famous letter to the Romans a few years before, so they probably felt like they knew him already, and they certainly wanted to honor him. When Paul arrived in Rome, he walked into a city that had already existed for almost 800 years. At the time, Rome had a population of about two million; a million slaves, and a million free. Society was divided into roughly three classes: A small upper class, a large class of the poor, and slaves. Amazingly, there were some from each of these classes who had become Christians and were now living out their Christian faith as equal brothers and sisters in Christ. Because Paul was not yet condemned and because he had been such a help to Julius the centurion, Paul was allowed to dwell by himself in his own rented living space. He was constantly under the supervision of a Roman guard and often chained. The rotation of the guards every four hours gave Paul a constant supply of people to talk to. In Philippians 1:13, written from this Roman custody, Paul told of how the message of Jesus had reached the palace guards of Rome. Though he was the prisoner, Paul had a genuinely captive audience.
Though Paul could not travel, he could teach and preach to all who came to him, and he did this with eagerness. During his time in custody, awaiting his appearance before Caesar Nero, Paul would preach the gospel to the Romans, Greeks, and Jews alike. Some would accept his message, and others, through hardness of heart, would reject it. Paul would also use this time to write the epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul would spend two years in Rome before his trial in Caesar’s court. These two years were not wasted, and God did not waste Paul’s time in Rome. Paul did eventually have his appearance before Caesar Nero. Luke did not record Paul’s appearance before Caesar because the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts were most likely written to give the Roman court the background and facts of Paul’s case in his trial before Caesar. Though not recorded, it is entirely reasonable to believe that Paul boldly and powerfully proclaimed the gospel before Nero – as God had promised he would in Acts 9:15 and 23:11. It seems likely that Paul was acquitted of the charges against him, and by most estimates was free for another four or five years. Some even speculate that Paul made a final missionary journey westward towards what is now Spain. Eventually, Paul was arrested again as tensions rose and renewed accusations were brought against many Christians. Paul was imprisoned, condemned, and executed by beheading in Rome at the command of Nero in A.D.66 or 67. At that moment, Paul was welcomed into the loving embrace of his Savior, the one he had met so long ago on the road to Damascus, Jesus Christ.
Soon after, the crew realized they were on the island of Malta, just off the southern tip of Italy. The southern portion of the island was largely uninhabited except for local natives, but the northern portion of the island was well populated and a key Roman trading port. The men are even welcomed into the estate of the leading citizen and representative of Rome on the island, a man by the name of Publius, whose father was very sick. Most likely, he was stricken with a malady known as Malta fever, which is very serious, and came from a bacterial microorganism found in the milk of Maltese goats. Paul lays his hands on, prays for, and heals this man’s father in the name of Jesus. God has power even over the microscopic. Over the next three months, many people on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. It’s amazing to think that without the storm and the shipwreck, none of those people would have been brought before Paul. We would not have these incredible stories to read. God truly can take whatever comes at us and use it for his glory. He only requires men and women who are faithful and willing to be used by him in every situation.
Once winter had ended, the final leg of the journey to Rome was made. It is only reasonable that the Christian community in Rome would be worried about Paul and Luke. They knew the duo had sailed for Rome, yet after many months had not arrived. What a relief when news came that Paul and Luke were still alive and well, preaching the good news and healing people with only a word. The Christian church honored Paul by greeting him as the emperors were greeted when returning from battle. They went out to meet him as he came into the city, walking the long 43-mile journey to the Appii Forum to welcome Paul, Luke, and all the survivors of the shipwreck, people now very grateful these men of God had been on board. The Christian Church in Rome had received Paul’s famous letter to the Romans a few years before, so they probably felt like they knew him already, and they certainly wanted to honor him. When Paul arrived in Rome, he walked into a city that had already existed for almost 800 years. At the time, Rome had a population of about two million; a million slaves, and a million free. Society was divided into roughly three classes: A small upper class, a large class of the poor, and slaves. Amazingly, there were some from each of these classes who had become Christians and were now living out their Christian faith as equal brothers and sisters in Christ. Because Paul was not yet condemned and because he had been such a help to Julius the centurion, Paul was allowed to dwell by himself in his own rented living space. He was constantly under the supervision of a Roman guard and often chained. The rotation of the guards every four hours gave Paul a constant supply of people to talk to. In Philippians 1:13, written from this Roman custody, Paul told of how the message of Jesus had reached the palace guards of Rome. Though he was the prisoner, Paul had a genuinely captive audience.
Though Paul could not travel, he could teach and preach to all who came to him, and he did this with eagerness. During his time in custody, awaiting his appearance before Caesar Nero, Paul would preach the gospel to the Romans, Greeks, and Jews alike. Some would accept his message, and others, through hardness of heart, would reject it. Paul would also use this time to write the epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul would spend two years in Rome before his trial in Caesar’s court. These two years were not wasted, and God did not waste Paul’s time in Rome. Paul did eventually have his appearance before Caesar Nero. Luke did not record Paul’s appearance before Caesar because the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts were most likely written to give the Roman court the background and facts of Paul’s case in his trial before Caesar. Though not recorded, it is entirely reasonable to believe that Paul boldly and powerfully proclaimed the gospel before Nero – as God had promised he would in Acts 9:15 and 23:11. It seems likely that Paul was acquitted of the charges against him, and by most estimates was free for another four or five years. Some even speculate that Paul made a final missionary journey westward towards what is now Spain. Eventually, Paul was arrested again as tensions rose and renewed accusations were brought against many Christians. Paul was imprisoned, condemned, and executed by beheading in Rome at the command of Nero in A.D.66 or 67. At that moment, Paul was welcomed into the loving embrace of his Savior, the one he had met so long ago on the road to Damascus, Jesus Christ.
