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| Chapter 28 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ And when they had escaped, they then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 And the barbarous people showed 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 hanging from 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 Now they were expecting that he should have swollen or suddenly fallen down dead; but after watching a great while and seeing no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 7 In the same quarters were the 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 with a fever and a bloody flux. Paul entered in and prayed, and laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also on the island who had diseases, came and were healed. 10 These also honored us with many honors; 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 on the isle and 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 a day later the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli. 14 There we found brethren and were invited 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 the Appii Forum and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, 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 who kept him. 17 ¶ And it came to pass that after three days Paul called the chief Jews together; and when they had 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 deserving of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar, not that I had anything to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you and to speak with you, because it is for the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. 21 And they said unto him, "We neither received letters from Judea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren who came show or speak any harm of thee. 22 But we desire to hear from thee what thou thinkest; for concerning this sect, we know that everywhere 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 until evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when they were unable to agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word: "Well spoke the Holy Spirit through Isaiah 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 has 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. |
God had brought them to this island, to the Greeks anyone who did not speak Greek was a Barbarian, so the people of Malta were considered "barbarous" by Luke. The people showed great kindness to the passengers and crew, lighting fires and supplying cover etc. v3-6 Paul did his share of collecting the wood for the fires, happy to be a "servant," a poisonous snake, a viper(adder) was hiding in the wood and attacks Paul. The people of Malta, when they saw this thought that this must be a terrible prisoner and he was being killed by god. Paul is not affected by the bit and now the people think he must be a "god." Did Satan send the viper in an attempt to kill Paul? Or was it arranged by God to make the people of Malta listen to the message? As God’s people we must be alert to every situation, and be able to know the source. Paul and the party remained in Malta for three months and because the healing of the father of Publius by Paul and healing of others they were made most welcome. Luke does not mention if they shared the Gospel but we must believe that they did not miss the opportunity. v11-13 After three month they departed in a ship which had used the island for protection during the winter. We are not told why Luke chose to identify the ship "Castor and Pollux." In Greek mythology "Castor and Pollux" were the names of the twin sons of Zeus. v14-15 The wind direction was perfect for the journey of 330 miles to Puteoli near Naples. After a weeks rest they head for Rome. Word had already got to Rome that Paul was coming and some believers came to meet the party. Again we are not told how they knew Paul was coming. Following the Appian Way road the Roman soldiers, the prisoners and Paul’s party covered the 120 miles to Rome. The first group of believers meet Paul about forty three miles from Rome at the Forum of Appius, the second at the Three Taverns at thirty three miles. This gives Paul great encouragement. v16 The centurion hands over Paul to the prison guards but he was not put into prison but placed in a house with a Roman guard. v17-19 As soon as he could Paul meets with the Jewish leaders of the synagogues of Rome. He explains that his appeal to Caesar is not against the Jewish nation, he had not broken any laws but because of the behaviour of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem he was forced to appeal to Caesar. It is for the "hope of Israel" I am here. v21,22 The Jewish Leaders from Jerusalem had not sent any information to the Roman Jews, presumably no charge had been sent to the Romans either. No visiting Jews had any words against Paul so the Jews of Rome were wanting to hear what Paul was teaching. v23 On an arranged day Paul is allowed to open his prison house to visitors and there he opens the scriptures and the Word of God to the Jews of Rome. v24,25 The result was that some believed, some did not, they were still arguing when they left Paul. v26-29 Paul quotes Isaiah to them as they leave, Jesus also used this passage Matt 13:13-15; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10. It is easy to listen to a message, but much harder to actually hear and understand what was said. v30,31 Paul is not put off, he spends two years preaching the Gospel to any who came to him in his ‘prison’ house. During this time Paul wrote Philippians, Ephesians,Colossians and Philemon. He had Timothy with him, Phil 1:1; Phil 2:19; and also in Col 4:10-14 and Philemon v24 we are told that John Mark, Luke, Aristarchus, Epapharas, Justus and Demas were with him. Other visitors were Onesimus Philemon 10-21; Epapharus Phil 2:25-30 and Phil 4:18. Tychicus took Paul’s letters to Ephesians Eph 6:21, Colossians and Philemon. Col 4:7-9. |
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