Acts 28:1-31
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Very soon contacting inhabitants, they found that the island was called Melita, present day Malta. The people are called "barbarous," which only means they were not Greek or Jewish -- not the cultured classes: there is nothing derogatory in the term. In fact they proved themselves most hospitable and kind, kindling a large fire to warm the shivering crowd. Paul, not averse to laboring with his hands, gathered sticks also to supply the fire. When a poisonous viper, springing out of the heat, fastened on Paul's hand, the natives expected immediate death, and supposed that he must be a murderer whom providence had decreed should die. Paul however paid no more attention to it than to shake the creature off into the fire. When it became evident that it had done no harm, then the natives went to the opposite extreme and decided that Paul was a god. This illustrates how undependable and foolish are men's superstitions.
They had disembarked near the property of the chief man of the island, his name Publius, who extended the same courteous treatment to them, lodging them for three days. If we have already seen a miracle in the protection of Paul, now we are told of the miraculous healing of the father of Publius through Paul's intercession, and the resulting interest of others also who came and were healed.
In spite of the pleasant relationships seen here, however, and the outward blessing of healing, there is no record of any conversions to the Lord Jesus, though the people honored them with many honors, supplying them with necessities that arose because of their being shipwrecked. Where they lived after leaving the hospitality of Publius we are not told. Likely there would be a large seaport town where they could find lodging, since they found another ship of Alexandria which had wintered there. But they remained three months in Malta, concerning which we are given no more history
Typically we have reached the point where the testimony of the church has been already shipwrecked. The pleasant circumstances following are surely a picture of the time in which Christianity began to be recognized in the world, when Constantine, early in the fourth century, adopted it as the state religion. Many felt this a wonderful triumph for Christianity, but it was the reverse, for this resulted in mixing worldly principles with the principles of the truth of God and unbelievers with believers, eventually so obscuring the truth as to leave souls in darkness and bondage, with men given honor instead of rightful honor being given to the blessed Lord of glory. Even Paul is given honor, but he is still a prisoner: the truth committed to him has been kept confined in spite of lip-service being given him. Significantly, the real working of the living power of the Spirit of God in souls is not mentioned in Malta.
The next ship they board is no improvement in this regard either, being also of Alexandria, and having the idolatrous insignia "Castor and Pollux." Christianity, mixing with the world, wilt certainly find itself also mixed with idolatry. Their first landing place was Syracuse (in Sicily), meaning "dragging unwillingly," indicating that not all consciences of Christians were content with being drawn downward at that time, in the direction of the world and its idolatry. They remained there three days.
Leaving Syracuse, the ship sailed in a circuitous route (for the church has certainly not always taken a straight path toward her destination) to land at Rhegium, meaning "forcing the way through," for even in the testimony of the church of God men's forceful wills have too often taken the lead, rather than the principle of faith.
From there they continued by ship to Puteoli, meaning "little mineral springs, a place of at least a little relief from the general tenor of the trip, for they found brethren there, who desired them to stay with them for seven days. Perhaps the soldiers were glad to give Paul liberty for this, since after long sea travel it would afford some respite for them before taking the foot journey to Rome. Accommodations would have to be found for the prisoners, but other passengers of the ship would no doubt have dispersed. Then we are told, "and so we went toward Rome." The statement is significant as implying the drift of the church publicly at the time here typified, gravitating toward the ritualism that characterizes the church of Rome.
Word of the coming of Paul and company had reached the brethren at Rome, who came out perhaps 30 miles to meet them, an encouragement for which Paul thanked God. Coming to Rome, the centurion allowed Paul to live outside the prison, but in the custody of a soldier, though the rest of the prisoners were committed to prison. Paul was no mere usual prisoner, as their so trusting him indicated. But the soldier was virtually a captive audience for the gospel!
Having been there only three days Paul was able to call the Jewish leaders to visit him, and explained to them the circumstances of his arrest and imprisonment. He declares his innocence as regards any infraction of Israel's law, but that the Jews of Jerusalem had delivered him to the Romans as a prisoner. The Romans, after due examination, found no charge that could be substantiated, so were inclined to release him, but the Jews being opposed, Paul had appealed to Caesar. He adds, "not that I had ought to accuse my nation of." He might have accused them of their attempt to murder him in Jerusalem, but he made no issue of this. Now, he says, he desires to speak with them in Rome because it was actually on account of the true hope of Israel that he was a prisoner.
At least their minds had not been poisoned against Paul by letter or by personal contact, but they knew that Christianity was everywhere spoken against, and were interested to inquire about it. This gave Paul an open door, and on an appointed day from morning to evening he fully explained to them the truth of the kingdom of God. Many came to his own lodging to hear him expounding from their own Old Testament scriptures, showing that in the Lord Jesus Christ all their prophecies and types are fulfilled.
Some believed. others refused, but not without the warning of Paul in the language ofIsaiah 6:9 that they were fulfilling prophecy in rejecting the word of God sent to them for their blessing. This was refusing God the liberty of healing them. Therefore, he tells them, the gospel of God was sent to the Gentiles, who would hear it.
Verse 29 is not included in the earliest Greek manuscripts. Paul lived for two years in his own hired house, glad to receive all who would come to him. Altogether Paul was kept a prisoner 4 years without a trial! Rome's judicial processes were apparently as lax as those of present day United States law courts
Yet even under the eye of Rome, God gave Paul liberty to proclaim the kingdom of God -- so high above the boasted power of the Roman empire -- and to teach the truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with fullest confidence, no man forbidding him.
The ending of the book may seem abrupt, specially with no mention of the eventual outcome of Paul's imprisonment. But God is infinitely wise in the way He presents His Word. Does it not teach us that throughout the entire history of the church Paul remains virtually a prisoner, confined in his ministry? Professing Christianity does not give him full liberty, though it shows him some respect, and we are thankful that the truth is still not bound, but available for all who desire to receive it, though it identifies us with him who calls himself "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" (Ephesians 3:1). Earth holds no satisfactory conclusion for the history of the church. This must await the coming of the Lord.