Ashore on Malta
1Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
The locals of Malta understood justice as a...
The locals of Malta understood justice as a personified power or deity carrying out judgment on a criminal. When nothing bad happened to Paul, the natives understood him as having power over snakes and concluded that he himself was a god (cp. 14:11–12). In fact, Paul’s survival demonstrated God’s protection (cp. Mark 16:17–18).
3Paul 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. 4When 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.” 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The 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.
7Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
Cp. Luke 4:38–40.
Cp. Luke 4:38–40.
8The 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. 9After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.
10The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.
Paul Arrives in Italy
Luke, himself present on this journey (see study...
Luke, himself present on this journey (see study note on 27:1–28:16), recorded Paul’s itinerary from Malta to Rome with great geographical detail.
11After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers† as a figurehead. 12Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
They sailed across the Straits of Messina to...
- They sailed across the Straits of Messina to Rhegium on the southern tip of Italy. This port was a stopping place for ships traveling from the west coast of Italy to the eastern Mediterranean.
- Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) was a major port of entry for large grain ships bringing supplies from the east to Rome. Paul spent a week here with some local believers before moving on to Rome.
13From 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. 14There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15The 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.
Paul Preaches at Rome
16When we arrived in Rome,† Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Conscious that the Good News was to be...
Conscious that the Good News was to be presented to the Jews first (13:46; Rom 1:16) and concerned that the false charges against him might already have reached Rome, Paul summoned the local Jewish leaders and gave an account of his life and work. He insisted that he was guilty of no criminal offense, but strong Jewish opposition had made it necessary for him to appeal to the emperor. Paul had nothing against his own people; rather, he wanted to explain his great conviction that the Messiah they had been expecting had already come in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
17After 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. 18They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. 19But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation. 20So 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.”
The Jewish leaders assured Paul that they had...
The Jewish leaders assured Paul that they had received no reports against him, and they wanted to hear his explanation of this movement.
21The 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. 22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
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.
24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
Paul parted with scriptural words of warning that...
Paul parted with scriptural words of warning that are often used in the New Testament to explain the Jewish rejection of the gospel (cp. Matt 13:14–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:38–40; see Rom 11:1–12, 25–32).
25They 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.”27For 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.’†28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”†
30Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.