Bible Commentaries
The Bible Study New Testament
Acts 28
The Island was called Malta. Also called Melita, but not to be confused with the Melita on the coast of Illyricum. This is the island south of Sicily. It is about sixty miles in circumference. The natives. BARBAROI does not mean barbarians as we use the word today, but simply means they could not speak Greek (compare note on Acts 21:37). "Natives" is the more accurate translation. [The modern people of Malta speak an Arabic pidgin, which has elements of Italian and English.] So they built a fire. This shows they were kind and considerate people. Paul gathered up. He did not stand and watch but helped. A snake came out. A poisonous snake, perhaps like the "stinging snakes" God sent among the Israelites (Numbers 21:6). This man must be a murderer. They believed God used poisonous snakes to punish the guilty. Therefore, they believe Paul to be guilty of some horrible crime. He is a god! This is the opposite of what happened at Lystra (Acts 14:18-19). They expected Paul's hand to swell, and to see him fall dead. Paul had the special gifts from the Holy Spirit, and this showed his authority from God (compare Mark 16:17-18). Not every one was given the same gift (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11), and probably only a few had them (Acts 8:15-18).
7-10. The chief of the island. Publius is probably the Roman governor of the island. It would be his duty to take care of the Roman officer, soldiers, and their prisoners as well. He was kind and generous to them. Publius' father was in bed. Seriously ill. Paul uses his power to heal the man. [The apostles had the complete set of gifts from the Spirit. The power to heal the sick was one of these. Those not apostles received only one gift (2 Timothy 1:6).] When this happened. This brought all the people to Paul. He healed the sick, and certainly used this opportunity to preach Christ to them as well. They gave Paul and the others all the supplies they needed to continue on to Rome.
After three months. This would be either February or March. The worst weather would be over. The Twin Gods. This is the literal translation. Castor and Pollux were known as "The Twin Gods," and were favorite sea-gods of the sailors. Their carved figures or images were mounted on the bow of the ship as figureheads. Syracuse. About eighty miles north, on the island of Sicily. Three days. Alexandrian ship usually stopped here, but they may have been waiting for a good wind. From there we sailed on. Some Greek manuscripts imply a wandering route to catch the shifting winds, but the best manuscripts say they simply lifted anchor and sailed on. Rhegium. On the point of the "toe" of Italy. They stayed one day, and then a south wind blew. Puteoli. On the bay, near Naples. This, and Ostia, near Rome, were where the grain ships came in. We found some believers there. There was a church at Rome and many believers in Italy at this time (compare Acts 21:4. Julius permits this.
The brothers in Rome heard about us. They already had Paul's Letter to the Acts 18:2), but they had been allowed to return in a short time. Just now, Nero's wife Poppaea was a "Gentile converted to Judaism." The leaders would include synagogue elders, teachers of the Law, and the heads of the most important families. My brothers! Luke may give us a condensed version of what Paul says, or Paul may have said it just like this. He explains why he is a prisoner. For the sake of him. The hope if Israel was the Messiah! See note on Acts 22:22. We have not received any letters. That Romans 10:17). Each of them responded - either to believe, or to disbelieve. After Paul had said this one thing. This seems to imply that most of them disbelieved. How well! This is from Isaiah 6:9-10. This quotation is found six times in the Gospels, here in Matthew 13:14-17. These words are the one final thing Paul says to them before going to the Gentiles. The Jews left, arguing violently. Even those who disbelieved, could not put Christ out of their minds.
* Some MSS add Acts 28:29 : After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.
For two years Paul lived there. Christians in Rome and other places supported Paul during this time (compare Philippians 4:18 and note). Paul was able to do a great work here at Rome! This was God's providence in action (see note on Acts 28:16). Paul's career ends here in Acts. Traditional history says he was released from his imprisonment, and made touts of missions to Spain and to the East. But Scripture tells us nothing of this. Later he was again accused by his Jewish enemies, this time to be put in the common prison, during which time he wrote 2 Timothy. Just a few months after that, he was executed at Rome in 67 or 68 A.D. Ramsay says Paul had been a Christian for 35 years, and was sixty-eight years of age when he was executed.
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