Acts 28: Paul in Rome

  • Stranded on the island of Malta
    • 276 survivors; cold, wet, hungry, exhausted on the shore but thankful to be alive.
    • Malta: 18 miles long x 8 miles wide and located 58 miles south of Sicily. Malta means “refuge “in the Canaanite language
    • Malta: In Paul’s day the island was known for its prosperity and residential architecture. Today 96% of its population is literate.
    • Cold and rainy; Paul bitten by a poisonous snake
      • Showed Paul not only to be a Heaven-sent man but also a Heaven protected man!
    • The natives showed tremendous kindness to the travelers
    • See Mark 16.18
    • See Acts 14.11
  • The islander’s original thought after the snake bite was that he was a murderer and was receiving his just reward.
    • Then, perhaps he is a god. (See Acts 14.8-20 reversed).
    • People tend to swing from one extreme to another
  • Paul heals Publius’ father: 28: 7-10
    • God’s providence—the spot where Paul and the rest landed was near the estate of the most important man on Malta.
      • He was appointed by Rome as the Governor of the island… welcomed us and treated us courteously.
      • Publius’ father was sick of fever and dysentery
      • In 1887 it was discovered that Malta fever, which could last for 2 or 3 years, was caused by a microorganism found in the milk of Maltese goats.
    • It didn’t take long for word to spread of the miraculous healing
      • Others came and Paul healed them too.
    • Interesting to note: Paul’s later ministry less of these miracles occurred. Ex. Phil.2.27—Epaphroditus had been sick to the point of death; 2 Tim.4.20—“Trophimus, I left at Miletus sick.”
  • 3 months can make a huge difference in people.
    • They originally washed up on shore, tired, wet, hungry, now they leave with new friends (probably Christian friends) and with all they needed for their trip on to Rome. See Romans 8.28.
  • The Journey Continues; The arrival at Rome (28.11-16).
    • Syracuse: the capital of Sicily
    • Rhegium: town on the toe of the Italian boot
    • They would have passed on the west coast of Italy, Mt. Vesuvius, belching smoke over the unsuspecting city of Pompeii which would later bury the city in A.D. 79.
    • Paul arrives in Rome; see Rom. 15.24; Acts 23.11; 27.24.
    • Puteoli was a principal sea port between Naples and Rome.
    • They walked the final 75 miles from Puteoli to Rome.
    • Paul found brethren at Puteoli and invited Paul to stay with them for 7 days. (See 2 Cor. 1.3—“the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.”
      • Why did Julius allow the 7 day delay?
        • Reoutfit his unit who had lost everything?
        • Awaiting orders from Rome?
        • Personal favor to Paul after saving them from the storm?
        • Was he possibly a Christian now? (See Acts 10 and Philippians 1.13)
    • After a week they started north on the famous Appian Way.
    • What a sight: solemn Roman soldiers, sullen convicts, and smiling Christians marching on the famed Appian Way!
    • In the last chapter of Romans, Paul mentioned 26 friends in Rome and possibly these were the ones that headed south to meet Paul on his way north to Rome.
    • Market of Appius was a rest stop 43 miles from Rome.
    • Three Inns was a rest stop 10 miles closer to Rome.