An Outline Of Acts 28:1-16

Introduction: this last chapter of Acts begins with Paul and others on the island of Malta, and closes with Paul arriving at Rome, just as the Lord had promised (Acts 23:11, 27:24). Luke summarized nearly 30 years of church growth in one volume, from Jerusalem to Rome and then to other parts of the world, as further history relates. The chapter is divided almost half and half between Paul’s stay at Malta and his beginning ministry in Rome.

1 The Delay: Paul’s Stay at Malta

The Bonfire on the Beach

Text, Acts 28:1-6, KJV: 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.

--“When they were escaped” refers to Paul and the other 275 or so who had made it to the shore. Some of them swam; others floated, basically, by planks or other pieces of the ship per the last few verses of Acts 27.

--Melita is another spelling of Malta as attested by some of the commentators like Barnes, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/acts/28.htm Ellicott, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/acts/28.htm; and Matthew Poole https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/acts/28.htm .

--Luke is not insulting the people of Malta by calling them “barbarians”. This only meant the Maltese didn’t speak Latin or Greek as a first or “heart” language (e.g., Benson’s commentary at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/acts/28.htm and Barnes’ notes, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/clarke/acts/28.htm).

--The islanders were gracious to the nearly 300 strangers by kindling a fire. Try building a fire when it’s raining at all, let alone when the wind is stronger than just a gentle breeze! This speaks to the kindness these islanders were known for (see references above).

--Paul helped out by gathering some “sticks”, or anything that anyone could use for fuel (https://biblehub.com/greek/5434.htm). How there was anything dry enough to burn in those conditions is amazing.

--Paul also was one of the few mentioned in Scripture to suffer snakebite! Luke says a “viper” came out of the heat—understandable, as cold-blooded reptiles tend to hibernate until warm weather comes, and this event took place in October/November of the year.

--After the snake bit him, Paul shook it off into the fire. The islanders thought Paul was a murderer (technically, he was, because he had voted for the death of many believers in Jesus before his conversion, see Acts 26:10). The islanders expected Paul to die either from the venom or some other cause, but he suffered no ill effects at all.

--They thought he was a “god” after all this! Luke does not record how Paul convinced the people he was not a god, only a man like themselves, but surely he did this. Paul’s concern was that people worship and believe in the One True God, and nothing else.

The Care of and from the Citizens

Text, Acts 28:7-10, KJV: 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.

--Publius was perhaps the Roman governor of the island according to Ellicott’s commentary, (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/acts/28.htm), or, perhaps the wealthiest man on the island (Bengel, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/bengel/acts/28.htm). At any rate, Paul, Luke, and perhaps others were invited to Publius’ house for three days. Nothing is mentioned about the rest of the passengers from the wrecked ship.

--Now Paul performed one of the last recorded miracles in the New Testament. The father of Publius was ‘sick of a fever and of a bloody flux”. Adam Clarke thinks this disease was dysentery and perhaps cholera morbus (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/clarke/acts/28.htm). Paul first prayed, then laid his hands on Publius’ father, resulting in his healing!