Act 28:1 ¶ And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. COMMENT: Our mapmaker has marked the island of Malta just south of Sicily off of the boot of Italy. He may be correct.

Act 28:2 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. COMMENT: Barbarians are not always barbaric. The Indians in America were sometimes of the most hospitable nature until they found their very dangerous guests were sinners too.

Act 28:3 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.

Act 28:4 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 has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffers not to live. COMMENT: The barbarians knew the viper was deadly and were of a mind that Paul had not long to live.

Act 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. COMMENT: Thus fulfilling the promise in Holy Scripture to the Lord's anointed that "NOTHING BY ANY MEANS SHALL HARM YOU."

Act 28:6 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. COMMENT: Now God Almighty gave the barbarians confidence in Paul like he had given those escaped from the ship confidence in him.

Act 28:7 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. COMMENT: The "us" is the Apostle's missionary team who are now back in business being reverenced by the natives.

Act 28:8 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. COMMENT: This was one of Saint Paul's business cards. He healed the father of the chief man of the island.

Act 28:9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: COMMENT: The word is out now, that a man with supernatural healing powers is present, and others came and were healed of their diseases.

Act 28:10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded [us] with such things as were necessary. COMMENT: Now the missionary team has all it needs for the next three months.

Act 28:11 ¶ And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. COMMENT: There was a ship that had wintered in the island. It was apparently empty enough of passengers to take such a large number of people on board.

Act 28:12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried [there] three days. COMMENT: Syracuse is on the east side of Sicily not too far north of the island of Malta.

Act 28:13 And from there we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: COMMENT: Rhegium is just a little further North over on the tip of the boot of Italy and Puteoli, if you think about the sound of it; is a western port off of the coast of Italy. The Italians have many words that end in "i". We say Naples. They say Napoli.

Act 28:14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

Act 28:15 And from there, 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. COMMENT: God is encouraging Saint Paul on his journey to martyrdom in Rome, and though you might not think it a fearful thing; you will remember how they drove nails through the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus Christ to crucify him.

Act 28:16 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. COMMENT: Now we find Saint Paul not locked up in some dark dank dungeion, but he is housed with a soldier to guard him.

Act 28:17 ¶ 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." COMMENT: Paul has called the most imminent of the Jewish men together. He might not have had the freedom to do such a thing had not the Lord worked miraculously through him on the voyage. But although he is a prisoner, he had enough freedom to gather a crowd of his countrymen to speak with them.

Act 28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me] go, because there was no cause of death in me. COMMENT: Paul gives them the facts.

Act 28:19 But when the Jews spoke against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. COMMENT: In his explanation, Paul clears the air of any possible fear that he might accuse Israel in order to get free of his jailers.

Act 28:20 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. COMMENT: Now we find Paul is housed separately with a soldier guarding him and he is chained. Paul tells his visitors he has committed no crime, but is bound with that chain because of the hope Israel has of a Messiah which he has not yet named.

Act 28:21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of you. COMMENT: Here we find the way Israelites think corporately rather than individually as Gentiles are inclined to do. They do not speak saying, "I" have not received letters nor heard anything, but "we" ...

Act 28:22 But we desire to hear of you what you think: or as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. COMMENT: They must have recognized what Paul meant when he said he was a prisoner for the hope of Israel, for they identify Paul with the sect of believers in Jesus Christ.

Act 28:23 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 til evening. COMMENT: What a wonderful picture we have here of Saint Paul discoursing with Israelites in Rome all the day long in the Scriptures concerning the many prophecies regarding Jesus.

Act 28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. COMMENT: Once again, the Jewish people are divided upon receiving the message concerning Jesus being the Messiah they were looking for.

Act 28:25/26 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, "Go unto this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive: COMMENT: There Paul shows us the reason he went to the Jews first whereever he traveled, and he delivered the message from Isaiah the Prophet even as he had delivered it previously when their discourses were ended together.

Act 28:27 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. COMMENT: The prophecy puts the blame for the troubles of the Jews on them. The hearts of the Israelites had "waxed gross" before A.D. 72 when they were dispersed into all the world by Co-emperor Titus of Rome who emptied Israel of much of their population after they rebelled against the Roman empire.

Act 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and [that] they will hear it.

Act 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. COMMENT: Paul's closing reproofs got the attention of the Jewish men who "had great reasoning among themselves" to attempt to understand the message.

Act 28:30 And Paul dwelled two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, COMMENT: The miracles Paul worked and the prophecy he spoke regarding the shipwreck all worked to Saint Paul's benefit, so he was able to rent a house and receive all who came to see him, but he was not so free to be able to come and go; although it appears he was no longer kept in chains.

Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. COMMENT: Now we have to go to the holy epistles Saint Paul wrote to the churches he established if we wish to find out a little more about his incarceration in Rome, and ultimately his martyrdom which has come down to us historically.