Acts Chapter 28

At a Glance

  • Acts 28 narrates Paul’s continued ministry after the shipwreck on Malta and his eventual journey to Rome.
  • Arriving in Rome, Paul is allowed to live by himself with a soldier guarding him.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Acts 28 closes Luke’s account of Paul’s early mission journey and foreshadows the ongoing witness from Rome.
  • - God’s healing power and hospitality as doors to evangelism.

Chapter Overview

Acts 28 narrates Paul’s continued ministry after the shipwreck on Malta and his eventual journey to Rome. The chapter blends narrative on hospitality, miraculous healing, and evangelistic outreach with a sober note about reception by the authorities. The Maltan hospitality—kindness shown by the islanders in dangerous weather—sets the stage for Paul’s healing ministry, including the healing of Publius’s father and numerous others. The miraculous healing events affirm the gospel’s power within a public, distinctly Roman-imagined world, lending credibility to Paul’s proclamation.

Arriving in Rome, Paul is allowed to live by himself with a soldier guarding him. He receives visitors and continues to preach the kingdom of God and teach about Jesus with bold openness, fulfilling the mission that brought him to trial. The chapter culminates in Paul’s extended ministry in Rome, where he boldly declares the gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike, explaining how the Scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah and the centerpiece of God’s plan. Throughout, there is a rhythm of signs and word, healing and proclamation, demonstrating the harmony between God’s deeds and God’s message.

Historical & Literary Context

Acts 28 closes Luke’s account of Paul’s early mission journey and foreshadows the ongoing witness from Rome. Written in the same late-first-century milieu as the earlier chapters, this section emphasizes the expansion of the church into imperial polities and urban centers. The Malta episode serves both as a microcosm of pagan curiosity intersecting with Christian charity and as a validation of Paul’s apostolic authority in a non-Jewish setting.

The genre remains a hybrid of travel narrative, miracle story, and sermon-like preaching, with Luke highlighting the continuity between Luke’s gospel account and the Acts narrative—God’s redemptive work continues beyond Jerusalem and beyond Jewish walls.

Key Themes

- God’s healing power and hospitality as doors to evangelism.

- The legitimacy of Paul’s apostolic witness amid imperial and local audiences.

- The universal reach of the gospel: from Malta to Rome, the gospel crosses cultural and political boundaries.

- The continuity of Luke’s two-volume project: the risen Jesus remains at work through the Spirit in ordinary settings.

- Courageous proclamation in the face of possible opposition.

Modern Application

Paul’s ministry in Rome embodies the hopeful reality that the gospel travels through ordinary encounters with neighbors, officials, and strangers alike. The Malta miracle-story reminds readers that hospitality and kindness often pave the way for spiritual openness. In our era of rapid movement and diverse communities, Christians can learn to welcome neighbors with genuine care and to share Christ’s message with integrity and restraint, allowing deeds and words to work together.

The chapter’s emphasis on persistent proclamation in a complex urban setting encourages modern believers not to fear public spaces or skeptical audiences. God’s faithfulness in enabling healing and in sustaining Paul invites readers to lean into prayer, relational generosity, and persistent witness in mission contexts that mix worship, power, and governance.

Cross-References (3-5 related passages)

- Acts 2 (the Pentecost-spirit empowerment for bold witness)

- Romans 10 (the gospel to all who call on the Lord)

- Luke 10 (the neighbor as a missionary field)

- Acts 19 (Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and public impact)

Recommended Personas

- Paul: sets the pace for apostolic preaching and practical ministry in Rome.

- Luke: as physician-narrator, records healing with care and detail.

- Jesus: the risen Lord who authoritatively leads the church’s mission.

- Publius (and the Maltan hosts archetype): foregrounds hospitality as missional tool.

Chapter Text

1

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

2

And the barbarous people shewed 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 hang on 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

Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

7

In the same quarters were 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 of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9

So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

10

Who also honoured us with many honours; 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 in the isle, 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 after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

14

Where we found brethren, and were desired 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 Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, 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 that kept him.

17

And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were 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 of death in me.

19

But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

20

For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

21

And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

22

But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where 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 till evening.

24

And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias 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 is 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.

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