N2 Q1 1-10. Sojourn to Melita.
Q2 11-16. Journey to Rome.
Q1 R 1. Arrival.
S r1 2. Hospitality.
s1 3-6. Miracle.
r2 7. Hospitality.
s2 8,9. Miracles.
r3 10-. Hospitality.
R -10. Departure.
Acts 28)
1 And having escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. (Malta. It was in the jurisdictional of the Praetor of Sicily. St. Paul's Bay. the traditional scene of the shipwreck, fulfills all the conditions.)
2 And the barbarous people (the Greeks called all people who did not speak Greek barbarians. The Maltese were Phoenicians) showed us more than ordinary kindness: for they having kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. (really good to the shipwrecked. Probably happened a lot here.)
3 And when Paul had gathered a multitude of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper (to be bit by one was certain death) out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, having escaped out of the sea, vengeance suffers not to live. (The Greeks personified Justice, Vengeance, and other ideas; as we do when we speak of Nemesis.)
5 He then indeed shook off the beast into the fire, and suffered nothing evil. (Strong type of how you are to act today. Viper, serpent, one of Satan's names. Caesar claimed to be God. Type of anti-Christ, world ruler. Satan hated Paul with a vengeance because, he has Paul eating out of his hand, and the Christ entered. So Satan tries to get back at every chance. God will intervene when He chooses, and with whatever it takes, especially in the end times [Mark 13:4-13]. Think nothing of it that more prophecy than meets the eye comes to pass here. What happened when the serpent fell back into the fire? He was turned into ashes [Ezek. 28:18,19]. Satan cannot intervene in your destiny.)
6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell, or fallen down a corpse suddenly: but after they had looked for much time, and saw nothing amiss come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. (Religion takes many turns for those who do not follow our Father. They make a god of something divine.)
7 Now in the parts about that place of the chief man (= first. This title has been found on an inscription. Governor) of the island, by name Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. (Note the number of 3 in this chapter = Godhead. Stamp of the Divine Hand on the actions here right down to the governor)
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay taken with fevers and of a bloody flux (dysentery): to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. (God did, not Paul)
9 But when this was done, the rest also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honored us with many honors;
and when we sailed, they laded us with such things as were needed. (God rewards kindness. God took a bad situation and turned it into something good. This is how it is in His service.)
Q2 t 11-13. Departure for Rome.
u 14. Brethren. Puteoli.
u 15. Brethren. Appii Forum.
t 16. Arrival at Rome.
11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria (another corn ship), which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. (Lit. sons of Zeus. These twin sons of Zeus and Leda were defiled and their names given to the bright stars in the constellation Gemini. They were regarded as the patron deities of sailors. The "sign" was carried on the prow of the vessel, after the manner of our "figureheads".)
12 And landing at Syracuse (an important town in Sicily still bearing the same name), we tarried there three days.
13 And from there we fetched a compass (having tacked about), arrived to Rhegium (now Reggio, on the Straits of Messina): and after one day a south wind having sprung up, we came the second day to Puteoli: (On the Bay of Naples. Now Pozzuoli)
14 Where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came toward Rome. (Rome was used in a more extended sense here than in v.16. Paul at home here. He was a Roman citizen. Continues on to his destiny.)
15 And from there, when the brethren heard the things concerning us(i.e. the news), they came to meet us as far as Appii forum (the market of Appius, a small town on the Appian Way, 40 miles from Rome), and The three taverns (about 10 miles further on): whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. (He's cruising over land now.)
16 And when we came to Rome (the purpose was fulfilled, but perhaps not in the way Paul expected), the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but it was permitted Paul to dwell by himself with a soldier that guarded him. (He was chained by the wrist to the prisoner. Paul preached with guard fastened to him. Paul speaks of this chain in v.20. Rom. 13.)
O T1 17-22. First meeting. T2 23-29. Second meeting.
T1 v 17-,. Call.
w -17. Law and customs of Israel not violated.
x 18. Romans find no capital charge.
y 19. Jews [Kenites speak against Paul's release.
v 20-. Call.
w -20. Hope of Israel.
x 21. Jews [Kenites] receive no complaints.
y 22. The sect everywhere spoken against.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the first of the Jews (Kenites) together: and when they were come together, he said to them,
"Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or the ancestral customs, yet was I delivered prisoner out of Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. (He was delivered for one reason, he was a Christian of which the Kenites accused him. Always know who you are and where you are. And be in a position that forces the government which you are under to protect your rights. To teach God's Word, not your word. Not some organizations word and traditions, but God's Word. Chapter by chapter, verse by verse. You no apology to anyone for teaching God's truth. This is why Caesar's own ban will allow him to continue his ministry, and to continue writing the rest of the N.T., even while in chains.)
18 Who, when they had examined me, were wishing to let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. (They would have set him at liberty totally and freely. Chains couldn't be put on a Roman citizen until after found guilty of a crime. He wouldn't have these on except the fact that he was a Christian.)
19 But when the Jews (Kenites) spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar; not that I had anything to accuse my nation of. (Forced to use his Roman citizenship which was automatic.)
20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you:
because that for the Messiah from Israel hoped for I am bound with this chain."
21 And they (community of Judah, Israel) said to him, "We neither received letters from Judaea concerning you, neither any of the brethren that came reported or spoke anything evil of you. (Why would that be? Kenites sneak in amongst our brother Judah unaware and call themselves Jews. None there. No accusers there at this time. So you can understand at one time all the Jews were run out of Rome. Only true Judeans were left there after the Kenites were dispersed. It is important to know you are and have spiritual discernment. You are not to disturb the Kenites, the tares of Matt. 13. But at the same time if you are going to enjoy peace of mind, you had better have spiritual discernment. You will always be respected of them if you show fairness, and if you have character to stick to the Word whether men like it or not! the others they snuff at.)
22 But we think it right to hear from you what you think: for concerning this sect indeed, it is known to us that every where it is spoken against. (Christianity, if you teach chapter by chapter and verse by verse and identify enemies of Christ, it is spoken against even today. Don't be a man pleaser.)
T2 U z 23. Jews assemble.
a -23. Paul expounds.
V 24,25-. Result. Disputation.
U a -25-28. Paul warns.
z 29-. Jews depart.
23 And when they had arranged him a day, there came many to him into his lodging;
to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God (the Messianic kingdom was the subject. The mention of the Lord Jesus, and the law of Moses, and the prophets, establishes this), persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some were persuaded of the things which were spoken, and some were disbelieving. (So what's new? Take those that believe. The others are trouble makers)
25 And being out of harmony among themselves, they were being sent away, (suggests that the chief men [v.17] broke up the meeting and sent the rest away lest they should be convinced.)
Paul having spoken one word, "Rightly spoke the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet (the quotation is from 6:9,10. This is the 3rd occasion of the quotation of these words) to your fathers,
26 Saying, 'Go to this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall by no means understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive: (Rom. 11)
27 For the mind of this people has become fat, and with their ears they hear heavily, and their eyes have they closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their mind, and should turn again, and I should heal them.' (See Mark 4:13. Rev. 2 and 3.)
28 Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Grated in Rom. 11)
29 And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, (Lack of understanding the people would perish)
having great disputation among themselves. (They really talked this over comparing the law and the prophets)
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years (this was 61-63 A.D.) in his own hired house (free custody. Probably the means for this were provided by the Philippians and other believers.), and received freely all that came in to him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God (king-dom = King and His dominion), and teaching those things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all boldness, no man forbidding him. (Not church malarkey [traditions of man], but the true Word of God)