The Book of Acts Chapter 28

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The Book of Acts Chapter 28

Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.28.NIV

Paul in Rome

Paul Ashore on Malta

1 Once safely on shore, we (Luke was there with Paul.) found out that the island was called Malta. (They arrived at Malta, which is located along the way to Rome in spite of the storm which had hindered them so much. God rules.)

2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. (The local people treated them who had come through storm.)

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.” (Paul was bitten up by a viper. So the local people thought of his death for sure.)

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. (But the people saw that Paul was not harmed and thought Paul 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. (They were invited by the chief officer to his estate. and healed his father with prayer.)

9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. (Many other sick people also were cured.)

10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. (Even Paul was a prisoner God lifted him and his company high among the people for His glory.)

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. (After three months in Malta, the journey to Rome continued.)

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. (Keep sailing place to place.)

14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. (Time to time some good people treated Paul's company good.) And so we came to Rome. (Finally they arrived at Rome. Puteoli to Rome is a land travel.)

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. (There were many people waiting for Paul in Rome.)

16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. (Paul rented a place to reside with a Roman guard. It was pretty much free life.)

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: (Paul summoned the local Jewish leaders to defend himself.)

“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. (Paul explained how he ended up in Rome.)

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.” (Paul appealed that his faith in Jesus is rooted in the traditional Jewish belief of the Messiah.)

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.” (The Jewish Romans were not informed with the Gospel but willing to hear more.)

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. (More people gathered in Paul's residence. Paul emphasized that the Gospel of Jesus is the sum of the Messianic teachings of the Old Testament.)

24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. (The result was vary as always is; believe it or not. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Mt. 11:15, Mk. 4:9, Rev. 2:7, 3:22)

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.’ (Isa. 6:9-10)

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29]

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! (Paul was sharing the Gospel there.)

(This is the end of the Book of Acts. But the journey and sharing never stopped since then and will be continued until the Last Days.)

Paul's Death (Google AI)

According to church tradition, Paul's second Roman imprisonment under Emperor Nero led to his martyrdom around 67 AD; he was granted a Roman citizen's right to be beheaded (rather than crucified) outside Rome on the Ostian Way at the Three Fountains, where legend says three fountains sprang forth, and his body was buried nearby by Christian friends.

Gal. 2:19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

In God We

Live Together,

Believe Together,

Serve Together,

To be Blessed,

To be Blessings,

For His Glory.