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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
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| 1 And having been saved, then they knew that the island is called Melita, |
Island was called Melita – Now called the Island of Malta. R4506:5
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| 2 and the foreigners were shewing us no ordinary kindness, for having kindled a fire, they received us all, because of the pressing rain, and because of the cold; |
Barbarous people – So called because they did not speak Greek, but Phoenician. R4506:6
No little kindness – Yet there is no record that the Apostle or Luke or Aristarchus made any effort to conduct evangelistic meetings among them. The Apostle seemingly knew that they were too degraded to be called with the high calling. R3205:2, 2691:3, 1347:6
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| 3 but Paul having gathered together a quantity of sticks, and having laid [them] upon the fire, a viper out of the heat having come did fasten on his hand. |
Gathered a bundle of sticks – He stood not on any dignity or assumed superiority to be served, but promptly assisted in serving the interests of the entire company. R4506:6
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| 4 And when the foreigners saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said unto one another, 'Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved out of the sea, the justice did not suffer to live;' |
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| 5 he then, indeed, having shaken off the beast into the fire, suffered no evil, |
Felt no harm – The Lord constantly witnessed with him, by miracles and signs which mightily convinced the people. R1558:5
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| 6 and they were expecting him to be about to be inflamed, or to fall down suddenly dead, and they, expecting [it] a long time, and seeing nothing uncommon happening to him, changing [their] minds, said he was a god. |
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| 7 And in the neighbourhood of that place were lands of the principal man of the island, by name Publius, who, having received us, three days did courteously lodge [us]; |
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| 8 and it came to pass, the father of Publius with feverish heats and dysentery pressed, was laid, unto whom Paul having entered, and having prayed, having laid [his] hands on him, healed him; |
Healed him – The Apostle Paul healed the multitudes, but did not cure himself. R1689:4
Although so far as we have any information the Apostle did not attempt to preach the Gospel message. Evidently he did not consider them to be "good ground." R4507:1
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| 9 this, therefore, being done, the others also in the island having infirmities were coming and were healed; |
Which had diseases – He sent napkins and handkerchiefs to the diseased, but when the consecrated were sick he sent none to them. R1689:4
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| 10 who also with many honours did honour us, and we setting sail they were lading [us] with the things that were necessary. |
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| 11 And after three months, we set sail in a ship (that had wintered in the isle) of Alexandria, with the sign Dioscuri, |
After three months – Early in the spring of AD 60. R4507:1
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| 12 and having landed at Syracuse, we remained three days, |
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| 13 thence having gone round, we came to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind having sprung up, the second [day] we came to Puteoli; |
Puteoli – The Bay of Naples, the seaport of Rome, which is 150 miles inland. R4507:1
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| 14 where, having found brethren, we were called upon to remain with them seven days, and thus to Rome we came; |
With them seven days – The Centurion awaiting orders from Rome respecting the disposal of his prisoners. R4507:1
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| 15 and thence, the brethren having heard the things concerning us, came forth to meet us, unto Appii Forum, and Three Taverns whom Paul having seen, having given thanks to God, took courage. |
They came to meet us – The welcome faces of brethren. R1570:1
Paul had a considerable number of kinsmen and acquaintances in Rome, the number was at least over thirty two (Rom. 16:1-5). These visited him speed R3208:3
Appii forum – 43 miles distant from Rome. R4507:2
The three taverns – 30 miles from the great city. R4507:2
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| 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered up the prisoners to the captain of the barrack, but Paul was suffered to remain by himself, with the soldier guarding him. |
Rome – The very center of influence at that time. R3208:5
Captain of the guard – Julius, who is supposed to have been the prefect of the Praetorium, a man of good repute. R3208:5
But Paul – As result of Festus' letter to Caesar and the favorable impression the Apostle made upon the centurion in connection with the shipwreck. R3208:1
With a soldier – A guard, changed every few hours, to whom the Apostle was constantly chained. Probably a considerable number of the garrison had personal contact with the Apostle. R3208:1
That kept him – Many were brought into contact with Christian teachings and example. It is claimed that through these soldiers that the Gospel message was carried to France, Germany and Great Britain. R4507:3, 3208:2
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| 17 And it came to pass after three days, Paul called together those who are the principal men of the Jews, and they having come together, he said unto them: 'Men, brethren, I having done nothing contrary to the people, or to the customs of the fathers a prisoner from Jerusalem, was delivered up to the hands of the Romans; |
After three days – The first step, after his arrival and settlement in Rome, was to call together the chief of the Jews in Rome. R1570:1
The Apostle was energetic in seeking to be about the Master's business. R3208:3
The Jews together – At this time there were seven synagogues at Rome. R4507:3
He said unto them – The Apostle did not attempt to preach the Gospel at this first interview, but simply introduced himself and his message and made an appointment for a future meeting. R3209:1, 1570:2
He explained briefly the cause of the opposition of the Jews, the necessity of his appeal to Caesar and the assurance that he had naught to accuse his own nation. R3208:6
Committed nothing – Was not disloyal to his nation or its customs. R4507:4
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| 18 who, having examined me, were wishing to release [me], because of their being no cause of death in me, |
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| 19 and the Jews having spoken against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar not as having anything to accuse my nation of; |
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| 20 for this cause, therefore, I called for you to see and to speak with [you], for because of the hope of Israel with this chain I am bound.' |
The hope of Israel – Israel had a hope, and because of his loyalty to Israel and Israel's hope, he suffered imprisonment. R3208:6
It was in the promise of a Messiah and the establishment of his Kingdom. R1570:1
The blessedness promised to that nation, and through it to all the nations of the earth. R1435:4*
Its realization made sure in the resurrection of Christ. R751:2
See also comments on Acts 26:6,7.
Bound with this chain – Under the care of a soldier to whom he was lightly chained. R4507:3, 3208:1
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| 21 And they said unto him, 'We did neither receive letters concerning thee from Judea, nor did any one who came of the brethren declare or speak any evil concerning thee, |
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| 22 and we think it good from thee to hear what thou dost think, for, indeed, concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against;' |
We desire to hear – They had received no letter or communications injurious to the Apostle, and expressed a desire to hear for themselves what St. Paul had to say, because they knew this sect was spoken against as evil. R4507:4, 3209:1
This sect – The Greek word is airesis, heresy; but modern English definition has been changed. R1130:6, 3792:3,4
The Church of Christ is neither a sect nor an aggregation of sects; it is one and indivisible. It is Christ and all who are united to him. R1576:3, 413:5
This church was a sect itself--a split off from the Jewish church. R538:2
Christians are a separated class--separate from the world--separate from sinners--separate from all others; in that they accept of Jesus, and salvation through his blood. R538:2
There should be no schism or division of this sect; all who are of it should be one. (1 Cor. 12:25) R538:2
Everywhere – Good men and bad men may have both friends and enemies, but it is reserved for the pure Gospel and those who uphold it to be everywhere spoken against. R3209:1, 811:3*
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| 23 and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening, |
He expounded – He was ready with all his strong arguments. R1570:2
Showing from the Law and the prophecies that Jesus is the Messiah and that he is now gathering a spiritual seed to be his Kingdom. R4507:5
Showing the types of the Law, the necessity for an antitypical sin-offering and the necessity for an antitypical Prophet, Priest and King, and the predictions of the prophets. R3209:2
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| 24 and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing. |
Some believed not – It is always thus. The truth is a searcher and discerner of hearts and a separator. R4507:6, 3209:2,3
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| 25 And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word 'Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, |
Paul had spoken – When some refused the message, he quoted from Isaiah, how God foretold that the majority of the Jews would reject the message. (Isa. 6:9,10) R4507:5
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| 26 saying, Go on unto this people and say, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive, |
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| 27 for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them. |
Dull of hearing – Were unworthy of the knowledge and the call. R1347:6
A rebuke which the Lord so frequently applied to the Jews. (Matt. 13:15) R1570:4
Should heal – Greek, iaomai; as in "Pray one for another that ye may be healed." (James 5:16) Has also the significance R4099:3*
Can be applied in a moral or spiritual sense. R4099:5*
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| 28 'Be it known, therefore, to you, that to the nations was sent the salvation of God, these also will hear it;' |
Salvation of God – Another way of expressing the blessedness promised in the Abrahamic Covenant. R1435:4*
Unto the Gentiles – Who should enjoy the privilege of which they had judged themselves unworthy. R1570:4
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| 29 and he having said these things, the Jews went away, having much disputation among themselves; |
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| 30 and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired [house], and was receiving all those coming in unto him, |
Two whole years – Awaiting the due process of the law--the arrival of witness from Jerusalem, the formulating of charges, etc. R1570:4
His liberty. R1827:4; F672
His own hired house – Apartments. R3208:2
It was here that Paul wrote the epistles to the Philippians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and to Philemon. R3208:5, 1570:5
It is possible that his necessities were met by his friends or that by this time he had inherited considerable patrimony from his father's estate. R3208:2, 2969:1
Implying Paul inherited a patrimony which enabled him to live with numerous conveniences enjoyed at that time only by the wealthy. R4355:2
We should do the Father's will as the necessities of the work may require it, if expedient to have a dwelling place entirely consecrated to his work. R540:6*
Just as we have today, generally small, their usual meeting places were private dwellings or rented upper rooms. R984:2
In no respect did those early associations of gatherings resemble those of Babylon, "mother" or daughters, today. R984:2
All that came in – Those who are kept prisoners at home by family duties, illness, etc., should both pray and expect that the Lord would bring to them such as might be benefitted by their ministries of the truth. R3209:4
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| 31 preaching the reign of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness unforbidden. |
No man forbidding – But his enemies used this against him, "Hoping to add afflictions" (Phil. 1:16) to his bonds. F672
Following this, tradition says, the Apostle was liberated, and again visited the churches of Asia Minor and Spain, and later came again a prisoner to Rome and was decapitated. R3209:6, 1827:4, 1570:5
Probably during this latter imprisonment Paul wrote his epistles to Timothy and Titus. R3209:6
Paul is summarized as deeply religious, whole-souled, ardent, energetic, persevering, broad-minded, affectionate, loving; a great traveler, author, orator, organizer, missionary, philosopher; a genius, the Moses of the New Testament. R4355:3
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