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The Book of Acts
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BIBLE STUDY ACTS 28:1-31 REVIEW: Chapter 27 was an extremely detailed narrative by Luke of Paul’s journey (he was a personal participant) – culminating with all 276 persons on the boat being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. During this journey and drama, Paul is portrayed as being a person of great faith and courage, who though being a prisoner becomes recognized by everyone as being in charge. By God’s providence, no lives are lost and everyone makes it safely to shore. CHAPTER 28:1-10 “Paul at Malta” “After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and it was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.” The “natives” were non-Greeks who spoke a Semitic language. Be that as it may, they are shown as being very compassionate and welcoming to strangers in need. Luke highlights an incident about a snake fastening itself to Paul’s hand. Commentators note that today there are no poisonous snakes on the island of Malta, and it is very probable that this snake was not poisonous either. However, this incident does serve to remind us as readers about Jesus’ prophecy in Lk. 10:19 – “See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.” – and perhaps also Mk. 16:18 – “They will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” The point is that Paul is once shown again to be an authentic prophet. The natives’ verdict that Paul must be a god also reminds readers of the incident in Lystra in Acts 14:8-18. This of course is not so, but it does serve to show that the people were willing to recognize God’s power working through Paul – in contrast to the Jews later in the chapter. CHAPTER 28:11-16 “Paul Arrives in Rome” “Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.” Like their former Alexandrian ship which was shipwrecked, this ship also apparently was part of the fleet dedicated to the grain trade between Egypt and Rome. The “Twin Brothers” (Gemini) were Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus – who were particularly associated with protection at sea. Syracuse is the main city of the isle of Sicily. “And so we came to Rome” marks the fulfillment of the prophecy made in Acts 23:11. One noteworthy detail is that Paul was welcomed by the believers (lit. “brothers) who were in Italy. Even though Luke does not stress it, there were many Christians in Rome (Aquila and Priscilla, for example) before Paul arrived. Indeed, he had written his letter to the Romans several years earlier. Again, I (Pastor George) note that they went out of their way to welcome Paul – a significant contrast to the “non-support” given by the church at Jerusalem. Their presence and support was of great comfort to Paul. CHAPTER 28:17-28 “Paul and the Jews of Rome” Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor – even though I had not charge to bring against my nation. For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” They replied, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you. But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” When they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodging in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Some were convinced by what had had said, while others refused to believe. So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement; “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn – and I would heal them.’ Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” This is Paul’s final “defense” recorded by Luke. Luke’s purpose for writing about it is to once again show that Paul did not have any quarrel with the Jewish people. He only wanted them to understand that Jesus was the fulfillment of Israel’s hope. The leaders’ response is carefully neutral. They have heard a number of denunciations of the “sect” of the Christians, but not against Paul personally – and they are willing to hear more about what Paul has to say. In their second more formal meeting, Paul tries to convince them from the scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. As throughout his ministry, some believe and others do not. Paul ends by quoting Isaiah 6:9-10 – not only to explain the Jewish leaders’ rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, but also to show that their rejection has therefore opened God’s salvation to the Gentiles. Paul deals with this extensively in Romans 9-11, and as he explains there, his ultimate hope is that at the end the Jews will believe so that ALL people will be saved (Rom. 11:17-32). CHAPTER 28:30-31 “Conclusion” “He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” At first glance, this appears to be an unsatisfactory conclusion. Luke’s purpose, however, has been accomplished – his point is to show that the gospel is now being openly proclaimed in the very heart of the Roman Empire – thus fulfilling Jesus’ command that “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) In noting that Paul lived there two whole years “at his own expense”, Luke once again stresses that Paul was not a “charity case” – he earned his own living until the end. Paul was a prisoner, but not shut up in a jail cell. He rather was guarded as a low security risk in his own house by a Roman soldier – to whom he was attached to by a chain. It was from here that he wrote his letters to the Philippians, to the Ephesians, to the Colossians and to Philemon. A number of his friends were with him at various times – such as Luke (2 Tim. 4:11 ) and Aristarchus, Timothy (Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; Phil. 1), Tychichus (Eph. 6:21); Epaphroditus (Phil. 4:18); and sometimes Mark (Col. 4:10). What happened at the end of two years? According to tradition, he was executed by beheading under the Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians. Be that as it may, Luke has shown that the good news about “the Lord Jesus Christ” will always be proclaimed – to the ends of the earth and to the end of time! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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