Acts 28
31 verses
At Malta, Paul is bitten by a viper when gathering wood for the fire, yet suffers no harm—the island's inhabitants' initial assumption that he must be a murderer punished by justice is reversed when Paul shakes off the snake and remains unharmed, leading the Maltese to declare him a god; Paul's healing of Publius's father and others on the island establishes his apostolic authority and the gospel's power among the nations. Paul's arrival in Rome (after the winter) represents the fulfillment of the angel's promise and the culmination of Luke's redemptive geography, as the gospel reaches the imperial capital through the apostle's witness and suffering. Paul's meeting with the Jewish leaders in Rome and his explanation of the kingdom of God through the law of Moses and the prophets from morning to evening produce division: some are convinced but others disbelieve, occasioning Paul's final OT quotation from Isaiah 6:9-10 (Go to this people and say, You will be ever hearing but never understanding, you will be seeing but never perceiving)—marking the irrevocable hardening of those who reject the gospel's claim. The closing summary—Paul spent two whole years in his own rented house proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, unhindered by anyone—uses the word akolutos (unhindered, without restraint) to affirm that despite opposition and imprisonment, the Spirit sustains the apostle's witness to the end, and that the gospel's advance toward the nations is assured by divine purposes, not imperial permission.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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5
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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9
So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
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10
Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
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11
And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
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12
And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
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God is faithful in every circumstance.. Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal.. Their context of persecutio...
13
And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:
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14
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
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15
And from thence, 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.
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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.
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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.
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18
Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
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19
But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
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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.
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21
And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
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22
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
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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 till evening.
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24
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
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25
And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
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26
Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
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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.
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28
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
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29
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
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30
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
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31
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
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