The letter of the Acts
Paul goes from Malta to Rome
Chapter 28 - 1 to 16
The previous chapter leaves Paul on the beach of an island, because of the wreckage of the ship taking him on his way to Rome, under the custody of a centurion named Julius and his soldiers, along with other prisoners, and accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus.
At first they did not know where they were, having spent more than two weeks without seeing the sky, sea or land because of a violent storm. Now they came to know that the island where they were was Malta, which lies south of Sicily, southern Italy. Although completely disoriented, the storm had blown them on the right route to their destination.
They were a large group, 276 people in all, and having swum to shore in the rain, they were cold. Nonetheless, the Maltese, who built a fire and welcomed everyone, greeted them with what Luke calls “unusual kindness”. Luke calls the Maltese "barbarians" (translated "natives" here) , the name the Greeks gave to the people who did not speak Greek (Romans 1:14) but it had no pejorative meaning as it has today.
Paul helped and gathered a bundle of sticks, and was laying them on the fire when a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. The Maltese could see that Paul was a prisoner, and seeing the snake hanging from his hand they deduced that he would be a murderer who, having escaped death in the shipwreck, justice did not allow to live. Paul just shook and dropped the snake on the fire, suffering no harm, but they continued for some time in expectation that he would swell up and die. Seeing that he escaped immune, they changed their minds and said he was a god! It was an example of the inconstancy and fickleness of many people whose opinions have some basis but are the result of ignorance, superstition and faith in falsehoods.
Publius is a proper Latin name, and this man was the leading citizen on the island. He had a property nearby, and proved to be very hospitable inviting Paul, Luke and Aristarchus, and possibly others, to stay at his house, where he received and provisionally hosted them for three days, when they could then move to more suitable accommodation for their long wintering.
The father of Publius was sick, Paul visited him and prayed, and laid hands on him, and he was healed. Word spread, and others who had diseases on the island came to him and were healed. Nothing is said about the testimony of the Gospel by Paul and his companions, but it is more than likely that they did not miss the opportunity to deny that Paul was a god and to attribute healing to the true God they served, and to introduce them to the person of the Saviour Jesus Christ. Those who were healed expressed their appreciation by treating them well during the three months they remained on the island and provided them with supplies for the journey that followed, continuing the journey to Rome.
They then sailed on a ship of Alexandria, which had also been on the island during that winter; they were once again aboard a ship carrying grain from Alexandria to Rome. Luke tells us that she had Castor and Pollux for insignia. These were the legendary sons of the god Zeus, and were the patron gods of sailors. Their pictures would have been painted, one on each side of the bow.
They sailed the 80 miles to Syracuse, capital city of Sicily, without incident of note and remained there for three days. Continuing their journey, they stopped for a day in Rhegium, and, taking advantage of favourable wind sailed to Puteoli, the main port of Rome, on the north shore of the Bay of Naples, about two hundred miles away. There they found brethren, and at their invitation had the opportunity to spend a week with them before continuing their journey of about one hundred and seventy miles overland to Rome, on one of the major roads built by the Romans across Europe.
Rome was the most famous city of that part of the world at the time of Christ until many centuries later. It is understood that it was founded in 753 BC, and at the time when the New Testament was written it had been enriched by the achievements of their strong armies, having a population estimated at 1.2 million inhabitants, half of whom were slaves and they had representatives from almost all the nations then known. It was distinguished for its wealth, luxury, violence and debauchery.
Some Christian churches were gathered in Rome by believers who carried the message of the Gospel there, but the names of these pioneers are unknown. These churches met in homes. On his last journey to Jerusalem, Paul had written them a letter expressing his desire to visit them soon after handing over the offering he was taking to the believers in Jerusalem. His intention was to go to Spain, passing through Rome. This letter was included as part of the Bible and we know it as the letter to the Romans.
In the letter, Paul began by extolling the faith they had, and that was being announced "around the world", and revealed his plans to visit them (Romans 1:8-14). He already knew many by name, including some of his countrymen who were among them, Andronicus, Junia and Herodion. The couple Priscilla and Aquila, who he met as in chapter 18, headed a list of people to whom he sent greetings and special recommendations, including several others there who had helped Paul elsewhere (Romans 16:3-15).
Not surprisingly, therefore, they already knew of his journey, as they would have received news from him or about him during his stops. The brethren of Rome enthusiastically went out in two groups to meet him on the road from Puteoli. One group journeyed forty-five miles to the Appii Forum. Another group met them at Three Inns, thirty miles away. Seeing them, Paul thanked God and was encouraged.
Although the trip was very different from the one he so much aspired to, it was God's purpose that Paul should come to Rome to have the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the most important and influential men in the world at that time. Moreover, for this end he would have to go as a prisoner. When they arrived in Rome, Paul continued to be specially treated and received permission to live on his own in the custody of a soldier. Such was the grace of God to him.
R David Jones
1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.
2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live."
5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days.
8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.
9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
10 They also honoured us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.
11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.
12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days.
13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli,
14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.
15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Acts chapter 28, verses 1 to 16