The Book of Acts Chapter 28
Originally posted Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Acts Chapter
28:1-10 The Island of Malta
Paul,
other prisoners, the ship's crew and Roman guard safely managed the heavy waves
and reached the shore. The morning showers had begun, adding to the cold winter
breeze coming off the ocean. They were met by a number of inhabitants who
welcomed them with unexpected kindness (1).
The ship had run aground on the island of Malta, approximately sixty miles
south southwest of Sicily and one hundred eighty miles north of Africa. The
island was a strategic Roman colony and its harbor served the heavy sea traffic
from all around the Mediterranean. The wet seafarers were probably not the
first castaways they had seen. The native islanders built a fire big enough for
everyone to gather around to ward off the chill. To keep the fire fed Paul and
others gathered some of the driftwood that littered the shore. As
he placed the wood on the fire a small but venomous snake that had been
entangled among the pieces and driven out by the heat, latched its fangs
onto Paul's hand and he quickly shook it off. The islanders saw the snake
on Paul's hand and were certain he must be a murderer and that
justice had finally caught up with him to finish what the sea had not
accomplished. When enough time had passed and he did not "swell up
and drop dead" they concluded he must be a divine man or a god.
The
leading Roman official (Governor) of the island, Publius, was informed of
the shipwrecked "guests" and he offered his hospitality to them
for several days. During the brief stay Paul healed Publius' father as well as
many people of the island. Although Luke makes no mention of Paul sharing his
Christian faith, that he did so would be in keeping with all we have read of
him to this point. It is also in keeping with later tradition. His visit may be
related to the beginnings of what is now a very strong Christian (now
Roman Catholic) population on Malta. Early tradition indicates
Publius became the first Bishop of Malta, and he is venerated as a
martyred Saint by the Catholic Church.
Acts Chapter 28:11-16 Paul
Arrives in Rome
The
three-day stay with Publius who "hospitably entertained" Paul and
company, became a three month stay on the island, ending when winter gave
way to spring. We would wish to have more information about Paul's activities
during that time but we would not be easily disproved if we were to write the
story ourselves. It would be one of following the divine imperative, the
"must" that drove Paul to spread his message. There is evidence that
there had been a Jewish presence on Malta as early as the ancient Phoenician
settlements in the beginning of the first millennium. In the early twentieth
century an inscription was uncovered which reads, "To the love of our father Yahwe" written in the
Phoenician alphabet.
After
the three months the refreshed travelers boarded an Alexandrian grain ship.
Luke notes the detail of the ship's markings said to embody the spirit of
the ship. It was of the twin gods Castor and Pollux, sons of Leda and Zeus,
ironically considered to be the protectors of seafarers. English translations
of verse 11 indicate this
was a figurehead on the prow of the ship, but the Greek word used by Luke is
clearly "markings" which better describes the painted or
embroidered images on the mainsail.
The
first port was Syracuse on the southeastern coast of Sicily, then to
Rhegium at the tip of the Italian Boot. Paul's sea travels ended in the major
port of Puteoli on the north coast of the Bay of Naples, one hundred
seventy miles from Rome on the Appian Way. Here Paul found a community of
fellow Christians with whom he stayed for seven days. The presence of
Christians in this earliest part of third decade after Jesus' death is an
indicator of the existence of a large Christian presence in Rome. Paul has
already met Jewish Christians in Corinth who had come from Rome in 49/50 CE,
more than ten years before Paul's arrival.
Once
in Rome the word of Paul's arrival quickly spread throughout the Christian
community. Luke writes that the believers in Rome, mostly Jewish Christians,
when they heard that Paul was on his way came to meet him as far as the
Appii Forum (Market), a town on the Appian Way, fifty two miles from Rome,
and the Three Taverns, also on the Appian Way, thirty miles from Rome. When he
finally arrived in the Imperial City he was given his own personal quarters
with a single Roman soldier as his guard.
Acts Chapter 28:17-22 Paul
Meets the Jewish Leaders
Paul
wasted little time resting from the long ordeal of sea and land travel. On
the third day he sent word to the Jewish leaders of his desire to meet with
them. When they came he related the events of his arrest
in Jerusalem, his hearings before Felix, Festus and Agrippa. In every case
they found no crime worthy of punishment and they wanted to release
him. But because the Jews of Jerusalem objected, he felt compelled to appeal to
Caesar since to be freed meant he would be the subject of a manhunt instigated
by the same assassins who had sworn an oath to God to kill him. Such an
oath had to be fulfilled at all costs.
Paul
appeals to the gathered Jewish leaders, relating his presence in Rome as the
result of his devotion to the messianic hope of Israel. His depiction of
his present state as being in chains is to be understood metaphorically. His
"chains" are figurative, referring to the present restriction of
his ability to freely travel and continue his evangelistic mission. The
leaders' response is interesting. They have not received letters from Judea or
any condemning comments from Judean visitors regarding Paul so there is
nothing they have against him. But they have heard nothing good about
"this sect." They wanted to hear Paul's opinion, a strange response
unless they did not have enough information to make the association
between Paul and Christianity. Perhaps they were hoping for a less threatening
description of this new sect Paul was promoting. They parted with an agreement
to meet the next day.
Acts Chapter 28:23-31 Paul
Preaches to the Jews
Apparently
the interest in what Paul had to say was considerably wider than the Jewish
leadership. They came in "great numbers." Following his
usual approach with Jewish listeners, Paul used Moses and the prophets to
convince them that Jesus was the foretold Messiah, the hope of Israel,
the portal of entry into God's kingdom. As with many of his Jewish
audiences some were convinced and some rejected his words. As they
are leaving Paul closes the conversation with what seems to be something less
than a tactful comment. Quoting an odd mixture of Isa. 6:9, Jer. 5:21 and Isa. 44:18, Paul describes those who
reject his message as those who listen but cannot understand, look but not
perceive (both phrases mean the same thing) because their hearts (minds) have
grown dull (they have closed minds not minds
made dull by God). Had they not been so closed minded they would have
heard and understood, seen and perceived, repented, turned to God and been
forgiven. But they have not and it is because of their refusal that God's
salvation has been sent to the Gentiles. Readers will notice there is
no verse 29 in most
English translations. There are a number of manuscripts that add a verse 29, "And when he had said
these words, the Jews departed, arguing vigorously among
themselves." The verse probably was not part of the original text of Acts
but it certainly is in keeping with Luke's general view of Jewish response to
the Gospel.
Luke
closes with a peaceful conclusion. Paul is living in his own "hired
dwelling," welcoming all who wanted to listen to him, proclaiming God's
kingdom and Jesus Christ without hindrance.
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Notes
(1) The Greek word used in verse 2 for "natives" is
Barbarian. The word did not carry the same meaning as it does in our
time. It was not a reflection on the level of their civility - they did
offer unusual kindness. The word is better understood as "foreigner"
apart from Greek and Roman culture. The island had a long history of
colonization from the early Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. Its location was
important in the Roman process of clearing the sea of pirates.
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