Acts 28 - Malta to Rome

by Katrina

LINK: Acts 28

BACKGROUND

 Map by Gordon Smith can be used without further permission. http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm

The shipwreck occurred off the coast of the island of Malta (point 15 on the map). The inhabitants of this island were not Greek and did not speak Greek. But they were kind to the shipwrecked foreigners and treated them well for the three months they were on the island. When an Alexandrian ship nearby was ready to sail, they boarded it and headed for Rome, stopping at various ports of Italy along the way. By the way, Puteoli is the port of Naples.

Paul was in Rome under house arrest for two years. He rented a place to live and was guarded by a soldier there. Anyone could visit him at any time. Upon his arrival, he gathered the Jews together to hear his defense. His accusers from Palestine never showed up, though, so Paul was acquitted and freed.

During his two years in Rome, Paul shared the gospel with the Jews and the Gentiles, and many believed. He was not restricted in any way from his teaching.

Luke ends his narrative here, but while he was under house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. It is likely that during this two year period, Luke recorded the book of Acts. (It was also during this time that James wrote his epistle and Peter wrote his first letter.) Upon his release from Rome, Paul began traveling again. We don't have his travels mapped out for us like we do in the book of Acts, but in the letters that follow this time, he refers to many of the places he went.

CONGRATULATIONS on your completion of the book of Acts!!! Wasn't that an exciting story of the events following Jesus' ministry on earth!?

I'm very excited to begin Paul's epistles tomorrow! They will flesh out the gospel message and help us understand our salvation in Jesus and how we should conduct our lives as believers.

PRAYER
Father, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit and demonstrating your power to us through your work. Help us to continue to teach the Lord Jesus Christ in our generation to all the world. In the name of Jesus, amen.