Acts Chapter Twenty-Eight

Acts Chapter Twenty-Eight (NIV)
Acts Chapter Twenty-Eight (NASB)

I. SYNOPSIS

Verses 1-10: Paul spends three months on Malta.

Verses 11-16: Paul sails to Rome.

Verses 17-31: Paul preaches in Rome.

II. SYNOPSIS

Acts 28:3-5--"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. 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.' He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm." There are different kinds of miracles. Here Paul is bitten by a snake, and the natives believe that he is being judged by Justice (the goddess who punishes wrongdoers). But Paul suffers no ill-effects, showing that he has divine approval.

Acts 28:22--"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.” The Jews in Rome knew nothing about Christianity, and yet they had heard plenty of complaints.

Acts 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." Throughout the Book of Acts, we've seen a constant appeal to evidence. Here Paul tries to convince Jews by pointing to Old Testament prophecies.