Actschapter 28

A.A Viper on Malta and Healings Across the Islandvv. 1-10

1 Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop 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 Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. 10 The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.

B.To Rome at Last: Brethren Meet Him on the Roadvv. 11-16

11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God. 16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

C.Preaching the Kingdom Unhindered in His Own Hired Housevv. 17-31

17 After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. 20 So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” 21 The leaders replied, “We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you. 22 But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.” 23 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers 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 grown callous; 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.’ 28 Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 29 30 Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. 31 Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Malta.

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Malta. The viper on Paul's hand; healings. Voyage to Puteoli and Rome. Two years in his own hired house: 'preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.' Acts ends open; the gospel has reached the capital.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

History · Luke — Acts overview

A. 1–10 A Viper on Malta and Healings Across the Island
B. 11–16 To Rome at Last: Brethren Meet Him on the Road
C. 17–31 Preaching the Kingdom Unhindered in His Own Hired House

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Acts 276 verses
- Acts 27:3The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.
- Acts 27:6There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.
- Acts 27:13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete.
- Acts 27:26However, we must run aground on some island.”
- Acts 27:39When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.
- Acts 27:44The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.
- Read Acts 27 →
Acts 284 verses
- Acts 28:2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
- Acts 28:5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
- Acts 28:23So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
- Acts 28:30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.
- Read Acts 28 →
Acts 254 verses
- Acts 25:8Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
- Acts 25:10Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
- Acts 25:21But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
- Acts 25:25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
- Read Acts 25 →
Acts 264 verses
- Acts 26:6And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,
- Acts 26:17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
- Acts 26:31On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
- Acts 26:32And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
- Read Acts 26 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Hebrews 132 verses
- Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
- Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
- Read Hebrews 13 →
Luke 132 verses
- Luke 13:2To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this fate?
- Luke 13:4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem?
- Read Luke 13 →
Acts 232 verses
- Acts 23:24Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
- Acts 23:29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
- Read Acts 23 →
Mark 62 verses
- Mark 6:5So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
- Mark 6:54As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus
- Read Mark 6 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.