Acts 28 brings the narrative of Acts to its appointed close. The shipwrecked company learns that the island is Malta. The natives show uncommon kindness, kindling a fire because of the rain and cold. When Paul gathers sticks and lays them on the fire, a viper fastens on his hand. The natives conclude that Justice has not allowed this murderer to live, yet when he suffers no harm they change their minds and say he is a god. Publius, the chief man of the island, entertains them for three days. Paul prays and lays hands on Publius’s father, who is sick with fever and dysentery, and heals him. The rest of the sick on the island also come and are cured. After three months they sail on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. They touch at Syracuse and Rhegium, then reach Puteoli, where they find brothers and stay seven days. As they approach Rome, the brothers come to meet them as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns. Paul thanks God and takes courage. In Rome he is allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guards him. After three days he calls together the local leaders of the Jews and explains that he has done nothing against the people or the customs of the fathers, yet was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who would have released him because they found no cause of death in him. Because the Jews objected, he was compelled to appeal to Caesar — not that he had any accusation to bring against his nation. He is bound with this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel. The Jewish leaders have received no letters or reports against him and desire to hear what he thinks, for concerning this sect they know that it is spoken against everywhere. On an appointed day many come to his lodging. From morning until evening he explains and testifies about the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Some are persuaded; others disbelieve. When they disagree among themselves, Paul speaks one final word from Isaiah: the Holy Spirit rightly said that this people’s heart has grown dull, their ears heavy, their eyes closed, lest they should turn and be healed. Therefore let it be known that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. Paul remains two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who come to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. The word has reached the heart of the empire. The narrative ends with the gospel unhindered while the Temple still stands.
1 When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” 5 However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. 6 But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days. 8 The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9 Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured. 10 They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.
11 After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.” 12 Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. 15 From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
17 After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation. 20 For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
21 They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
23 When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive. 27 For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’ 28 Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.”
29 When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him, 31 preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.
Source: ebible.org
The company learns that the island is Malta. The natives show uncommon kindness, kindling a fire against the rain and cold. When Paul gathers a bundle of sticks and lays them on the fire, a viper comes out because of the heat and fastens on his hand. The natives conclude that this man is a murderer whom Justice has not allowed to live, even though he has escaped the sea. Paul shakes the creature off into the fire and suffers no harm. When they watch for a long time and see that nothing bad happens to him, they change their minds and say that he is a god. Neither judgment is true; the protection is from the Lord whose servant he is. Publius, the chief man of the island, receives them and entertains them courteously for three days. Paul enters to his father, who is sick with fever and dysentery, prays, lays hands on him, and heals him. When this is done, the rest of the sick on the island also come and are cured. They honor the company with many honors and, when the time comes to sail, put on board the provisions needed for the journey.
After three months they set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island, with the Twin Brothers (Castor and Pollux) as its figurehead. They touch at Syracuse, arrive at Rhegium, and with a favorable south wind reach Puteoli on the second day. There they find brothers and are invited to stay seven days. So they come to Rome. When the brothers in Rome hear of them, they come as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet them. Seeing them, Paul thanks God and takes courage. The presence of the believing community strengthens the apostle as he finally enters the city the Lord had promised he would see.
In Rome Paul is allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guards him. After three days he calls together the local leaders of the Jews. He explains that he has done nothing against the people or the customs of the fathers, yet was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. They examined him and wished to release him because they found no cause of death in him. When the Jews objected, he was compelled to appeal to Caesar — not because he had any accusation to bring against his nation. He has asked to see them and speak with them because it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that he is bound with this chain. The leaders reply that they have received neither letters from Judea concerning him nor any report of evil from the brothers who have come. They desire to hear from him what he thinks, for concerning this sect it is known to them that it is spoken against everywhere.
On an appointed day many come to him at his lodging. From morning until evening he explains and testifies about the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Some are persuaded by the things spoken; others disbelieve. When they disagree among themselves, they begin to depart after Paul has spoken one word: the Holy Spirit was right in saying through Isaiah the prophet to their fathers, “Go to this people and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” Therefore let it be known to them that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. The pattern seen throughout Acts reaches its climax in the capital: the message of the kingdom and of Jesus is presented from the Scriptures; some believe; others do not; the word then turns outward to the nations who will hear.
Paul remains two full years in his own rented house and welcomes all who come to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. Luke ends the narrative here. He does not record the outcome of the trial before Caesar. The final note is not the apostle’s personal fate but the unhindered advance of the word. The gospel of the kingdom and of the risen Lord has reached the heart of the empire and continues to be proclaimed with openness and without obstacle.
Acts 28 brings the narrative of the transition generation to its appointed close. The Lord’s promise that Paul would testify in Rome has been kept through storm, shipwreck, and the protection of the empire itself. The hope of Israel is still the center of the message presented to the Jewish leaders. The Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets are still the ground of persuasion concerning Jesus. The Isaiah word of judicial hardening is applied to the present response. The salvation of God is declared to have been sent to the nations, who will listen. And the final picture is the kingdom of God and the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ being preached with all boldness, without hindrance, in the capital of the world while the Temple in Jerusalem still stands. The word has gone to the ends of the earth. The New Covenant mission continues, unhindered.
Acts 28 closes the narrative with the New Creation word established in the heart of the empire. The hope of Israel is still the ground of the apostle’s chain. The kingdom of God and the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ are explained from Moses and the Prophets. Some believe; others disbelieve. The word of hardening from Isaiah is applied, and the salvation of God is declared to have been sent to the nations, who will listen. For two whole years the message continues to be preached with all boldness, without hindrance. The risen Lord’s commission has been carried from Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. The Temple still stands; the old covenant age is still running its course; yet the word of the New Covenant is already unhindered in Rome. The narrative ends not with the apostle’s personal outcome but with the ongoing, open proclamation of the kingdom and of the Lord Jesus Christ. The mission continues.
Luke ends Acts with Paul preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. Why do you think the Spirit led him to close the narrative on this note rather than on the outcome of Paul’s trial? How does the final emphasis on the unhindered word shape the way we think about the advance of the gospel in every generation?