Chapter Twenty-Eight
Paul on the Island of Malta
28:1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Luke reports that they shipwrecked on the Island of Malta south of Italy, and that the natives were friendly and welcomed them, they even provided a fire for warmth as it was cold. When Paul was gathering wood for the fire, a viper (Greek echidna, an asp, viper, or cobra) bit and hung on to Paul’s hand. Recognized by the natives as being a highly poisonous snake they thought Paul must have been a murderer, that even though he escaped from the sea, that Justice (Greek dikē, likely a reference to the goddess known as Justice, the daughter of the mythological Greek god Zeus and goddess Themis, who personifies moral justice in seeking out and punishing the guilty) has not allowed him to live. But Paul shook off the snake and was not harmed by the bite. Meanwhile the natives were watching and waiting for Paul to swell up or die, but since he did not after a long time, they then thought Paul was a god.
28:7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
The location where they came ashore belonged to Publius, the highest ranking person on the island. Luke notes that he offered hospitality and entertained them for three days. His father was ill with a fever and Paul visited him, put his hands on him and prayed, and he was healed. When the word spread of his healing, everyone else who was sick on the island came to Paul and they were also healed. They honored them with many honors and when they were about to sail they provided everything they needed.
Paul Arrives at Rome
28:11 After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.
Three months had passed and now it was time to depart from Malta. They were able leave on another ship from Alexandria, one that had docked there during the winter. Luke notes that it had the twin gods (Greek Dioskourois, meaning “heavenly twins,” it is considered a proper noun referring to Castor and Pollux, the sons of Zeus by Leda, and are the patron deities of sailors) as a figurehead.
28:12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
They traveled from Malta to Syracuse on the Island of Sicily (estimated to be a distance of 110 miles) and stayed there for three days. From there they sailed approximately 75 miles to Rhegium located on the southernmost tip of Italy. The next day a south wind began to blow and they sailed approximately 210 miles to Puteoli.
28:14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
They stayed with fellow believers in Puteoli for seven days. Then they started their approximately 150-mile trek on land to Rome, when the news of Paul’s arrival was heard, believers came to greet him as far south as the Forum of Appius, a very popular marketplace 43 miles south of Rome, and at the Three Taverns, a resting place 33 miles south of Rome. Luke notes that Paul thanked God and took courage when he saw them. When they arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to find his own lodging, but he was aways guarded by a soldier.
Paul in Rome
28:17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”
Three days after he arrived in Rome, Paul called together (Luke does not say where in Rome) the local Jewish leadership. He offers a brief testimony starting with the announcement that he done nothing against their people or their customs, but he nonetheless was held prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. After they examined him they found no justification for the death penalty, but because the Jews objected (threatening his life) he was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though he had no desire to press charges against his own people. Paul states that for this reason he wanted to see and talk with them, that he is bound with chains because of the hope for Israel, the Messiah, has come. They replied that they have not received any letters (official writs) from Judea about Paul nor has anyone visiting spoken any evil about him. They then told Paul that they wanted to hear from him, as they have heard that this sect has been spoken against.
28:23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
They arranged a day for him to speak, a large number of people showed up where Paul was staying. He expounded and testified regarding the kingdom of God from morning to evening. He taught about Jesus using both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Luke notes that some of them were convinced while others were not. Paul noticing the disagreements among the people stated, “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, ‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’” (Acts 28:25-27, NLT) By quoting Isaiah 6:9-10, Paul understood the dilemma in preaching the gospel message to the Jews.
28:28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
After quoting Isaiah, Paul proclaims again that salvation through Jesus has been sent to the Gentiles (see Acts 13:46). Paul lived in Rome for two years and welcomed all who came to him, boldy proclaiming the gospel message about salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And he did so without hindrance (Greek akōlytōs, not being prevented, without restriction, without impediment).
Considerations
What Do We Know About Paul’s Death?
The Bible does not record Paul’s death, and there is little historic information available. The following are excerpts from various sources that point to the high probability that Paul was beheaded by the Emperor Nero.
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (originally published 1563)
At Iconium, St Paul and St Barnabas were near being stoned to death by the enraged Jews; on which they fled to Lycaonia. At Lystra, St Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. He, however, happily revived, and escaped to Derbe. At Philippi, Paul and Silas were imprisoned and whipped; and both were again persecuted at Thessalonica. Being afterwards taken at Jerusalem, he was sent to Caesarea, but appealed to Caesar at Rome. Here he continued a prisoner at large for two years; and at length, being released, he visited the churches of Greece and Rome, and preached in France and Spain. Returning to Rome, he was again apprehended, and, by the order of Nero, martyred, by beheading.[1]
Clement of Rome (unknown date of birth, died in 99)
Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects.(see footnote) Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.
Footnote
That is, under Tigellinus and Sabinus, in the last year of the Emperor Nero; but some think Helius and Polycletus referred to; and others, both here and in the preceding sentence, regard the words as denoting simply the witness borne by Peter and Paul to the truth of the gospel before the rulers of the earth.[2]
Eusebius Pamphilius (unknown date of birth, died 339)
Thus publicly announcing himself as the first among God’s chief enemies, he was led on to the slaughter of the apostles. It is, therefore, recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself (see footnote), and that Peter likewise was crucified under Nero. This account of Peter and Paul is substantiated by the fact that their names are preserved in the cemeteries of that place even to the present day.[3]
Footnote
This tradition, that Paul suffered martyrdom in Rome, is early and universal, and disputed by no counter-tradition, and may be accepted as the one certain historical fact known about Paul outside of the New Testament accounts. Clement (Ad. Cor. chap. 5) is the first to mention the death of Paul, and seems to imply, though he does not directly state, that his death took place in Rome during the persecution of Nero. Caius (quoted below, § 7), a writer of the first quarter of the third century, is another witness to his death in Rome, as is also Dionysius of Corinth (quoted below, § 8) of the second century. Origen (quoted by Euseb. III. 1) states that he was martyred in Rome under Nero. Tertullian (at the end of the second century), in his De præscriptione Hær. chap. 36, is still more distinct, recording that Paul was beheaded in Rome. Eusebius and Jerome accept this tradition unhesitatingly, and we may do likewise. As a Roman citizen, we should expect him to meet death by the sword.[4]
Jerome (347-420)
LUCIUS ANNÆUS SENECA of Cordova disciple of the Stoic Sotion and uncle of Lucan the Poet, was a man of most continent life, whom I should not place in the category of saints were it not that those Epistles of Paul to Seneca and Seneca to Paul, which are read by many, provoke me. In these, written when he was tutor of Nero and the most powerful man of that time, he says that he would like to hold such a place among his countrymen as Paul held among Christians. He was put to death by Nero two years before Peter and Paul were crowned with martyrdom.[5]
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[1] John Foxe, The Book of Martyrs, revised with notes and an appendix by W. Bramley-Moore, London, 1869, (pp 6–7). In Water, M. (2001). The New Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs (p. 33). John Hunt Publishers Ltd.
[2] Roberts, A., Donaldson, J., & Coxe, A. C., eds. (1885). The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1). Christian Literature Company.
[3] Eusebius of Caesaria. (1890). The Church History of Eusebius. In P. Schaff & H. Wace (Eds.), & A. C. McGiffert (Trans.), Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, and Oration in Praise of Constantine (Vol. 1, p. 129). Christian Literature Company.
[4] Schaff, P., & Wace, H., eds. (1890). Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, and Oration in Praise of Constantine (Vol. 1). Christian Literature Company.
[5] Jerome. (1892). Lives of Illustrious Men. In P. Schaff & H. Wace (Eds.), & E. C. Richardson (Trans.), Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, Rufinus: Historical Writings, etc. (Vol. 3, p. 365). Christian Literature Company.