Acts 28 · The Lantern

Ashore on Malta

And having been saved, then we found out that the island is called Malta.

"And they shall be scattered on the merchant ships of foreigners and together plunder the sea." For they, in their wanderings among the nations, had to make use of the passage through the sea, just as though they were flying on it, they made a swift course through the sea so that they might proclaim the gospel to most nations in a short time.

Do you mark what good came of the storm? Why then it was no mark of their being forsaken, that the storm came upon them. Now this that happened was in consequence of the season of the year; but the wonder is greater, that at such a season they were saved from the midst of the dangers, both he, and for his sake the rest, and this too in the Hadriatic.

"But the barbarians showed us no small courtesy," etc. Everyone being now on the shore, as terrible cold was upon them and they were weakened by long fasting, the barbarian inhabitants of the place supplied them with the provisions of courtesy.

And the natives were showing us no ordinary kindness; for having kindled a fire, they received all of us because of the rain which was already coming on, and because of the cold.

And when Paul had gathered a quantity of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper, having come out from the heat, fastened on his hand.

Finally, we often aid in this way even the heathen, seeing we have been endowed by God with that power which the apostle first used when he despised the viper's bite. What, then, does this pen of yours offer, if faith is safe by what it has of its own? That it may be safe by what it has of its own also at other times, when it is subjected to scorpions of its own.

You wickedly hurtful serpent, why do you still wish to call [us] back from the Lord and contrive your old pillaging on the newness of the law? O lover of death, whose very parent you are, why do you renew your warfare upon the redeemed?

When Paul was gathering brushwood, a viper bit his hand and caused him no harm, because the holy man was a practitioner of faith. Having sunk its fangs into the apostle's hand and finding no sinful wound in it, the viper immediately recoiled and threw itself into the fire, as if seeking punishment for itself.

And when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they were saying to one another, “By all means this man is a murderer, whom, having been saved from the sea, Justice has not permitted to live.”

He then, having shaken off the creature into the fire, suffered nothing injurious.

But they were expecting him to be about to become inflamed or to fall down suddenly dead. But when they were waiting a great while and seeing nothing amiss happening to him, having changed their opinion, they were declaring him to be a god.

"He, however, shook off the creature into the fire." The faithful are superior to any scheme, either if it is planned by people or beasts, and they are similar to gods, as Scripture says: "I say, 'You are gods; nevertheless, you shall die,' because of infidelity, 'like mortals.' " So the barbarians, seeing that [Paul] did not die but escaped from certain death, considered him t…

Therefore when the Barbarians saw this and the certain death escaping them, they thought him to be a god, having the custom, making everything marvelous, to consider as a god; just as they used to call the old gods, either because of some greater strength they exhibited among themselves, as was Heracles; or because by magic they astounded those about them, as was Simon in Samar…

They thought that Paul's body would be torn apart. "Having waited a long time." The miracle was not revealed suddenly, but the people waited for it for some time. Thus, this occurrence was not a deception or mere trickery.

Now in the parts around that place were lands belonging to the chief of the island, named Publius, who, having received us, entertained us hospitably three days.

And it came to pass that the father of Publius was lying oppressed with fevers and with dysentery; to whom Paul, having entered and having prayed, having laid the hands on him, healed him.

"And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him." So that he was worthy to receive kindness: wherefore Paul as a requital for his receiving them, healed him.

It happened, however, that the father of Publius, afflicted with fever and dysentery, was lying down, etc. Why does he save an infirm unbeliever with prayer, who heals the faithful Timothy and Trophimus, one by medical art and leaves the other entirely, unless because the former was to be healed outwardly by a miracle, who was not alive inwardly, which those who were healthily…

"The father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery." Dysentery, a disease difficult to cure, having been healed by Paul, converted many to faith in Christ.

And when this had taken place, the rest also in the island having infirmities were coming and were healed;

who also honoured us with many honours, and on our setting sail they laid on us the things for our needs.

Paul Arrives in Italy

And after three months we set out in an Alexandrian ship having wintered in the island, with a figurehead of the Dioscuri;

And all the remaining [details] of his course with Paul he recounts, indicating with all diligence both places, and cities, and number of days, until they went up to Jerusalem; and what befell Paul there, how he was sent to Rome in bonds; the name of the centurion who took him in charge; and the signs of the ships, and how they made shipwreck; and the island upon which they esc…

"And after three months, we sailed in a ship of Alexandria," etc. After three months, going on board a ship of Alexandria, they came to Syracuse, a city of the Sicilians; from there to Rhegium; from there to Puteoli; from there, now on foot, to the Three Taverns, where Paul was gladly received by the brethren and entered Rome led by them.

Almost always, especially on Alexandrian ships, it was customary to make such images near the bow of the ship on the right and left sides. And since, given the prevailing idol-worship of that time, the "Dioscuri" were probably depicted on this ship, we may conclude from this that the shipmaster on it was a foreigner and an idolater.

and having put in at Syracuse, we stayed three days;

from where, having taken off, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, when a south wind came on, on the second day we came to Puteoli,

where, having found some brothers, we were entreated to remain with them seven days. And so we came to Rome.

And from there the brothers, having heard the things concerning us, came out to meet us as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns; whom having seen, Paul, having given thanks to God, took courage.

"And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and the Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage." Not fearing the danger. But observe also how Paul himself also was affected after the manner of men.

Some places are noted outside Rome, one of which is said, with some probability, to have a statue of Appius and to be called his tribute, just as to this day the images of kings among the Romans are called tributes; the places called the taverns refer mysteriously to certain inns or shelters or to the use of taverns, so named in the Roman language. [ISIDORE]

When he says "to the Appian Forum and the Three Taverns," he indicates certain localities before Rome. The first, the Appian Forum, is a locality where a statue of Appius stood; from this, probably, the locality was also named the forum before the statue.

Paul Preaches at Rome

And when we came to Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier guarding him.

And it came to pass after three days that he called together those being the leaders of the Jews. And when they were assembling, he was saying to them: “I myself, men, brothers, having done nothing against the people or against the customs of our fathers, was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;

who, having examined me, were wanting to let me go, on account of there existing not one cause of death in me.

But when the Jews were objecting, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar — not as if having anything of which to accuse my nation.

For this cause therefore I have called you, to see you and to speak to you; for because of the hope of Israel I have this chain around me.”

And they said to him, “We ourselves neither received letters concerning you from Judea, nor did any of the brothers, having arrived, report or say anything evil concerning you.

Observe them also speaking more mildly to him. "We beg," say they: and wish to speak in exculpation of those at Jerusalem. Whereas they ought to accuse them, they plead for them: by the very fact of their exonerating them, they do in fact accuse them. For this very thing was a proof that they knew themselves exceedingly in the wrong.

"But they said to him: We neither received letters concerning thee from Judea," etc. The Jews replied to Paul that they had had no opportunity to learn either by letters or by a messenger the things that he had just told; but they asked him, instead, to let them know what he had preached in other places.

Even before Paul's arrival in Rome, the Jews had been persuaded not to accept the preaching about Christ — not only the Jews in Rome, but all Jews throughout the entire world. But how is this known?

But we deem it worthy to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect it is truly known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”

The Jews call the faith in Christ a heresy, because "everywhere it is spoken against." You see, the Jews themselves testify that Christ is preached everywhere, even though not all receive this preaching, as the text says, but some of the Jews or the Gentiles speak against it, while the heretics, in a different way, do not conform to the true faith.

"As for this sect, it is known to us," say they, "that it is everywhere spoken against." True, but people are also everywhere persuaded, as "some were persuaded, and some believed not."

Before he arrived. Paul was in Rome, the Jews had been commanded not to receive the preaching concerning Christ, and not only they alone, but also Jews everywhere in the world. How is this clear?

And having appointed him a day, many came to him at the lodging, to whom he was expounding, fully testifying to the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning to evening.

And some indeed were persuaded by the things he was speaking, but some were disbelieving.

And being discordant with one another, they were leaving, when Paul had spoken one declaration: “Rightly the Holy Spirit spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,

This is the Spirit that at the beginning "moved upon the thee of the waters; " by whom the world moves; by whom creation consists, and all things have life; who also wrought mightily in the prophets, and descended in flight upon Christ. This is the Spirit that was given to the apostles in the form of fiery tongues.

To those who call him the minister of the Father, Paul here gives a severe rebuke concerning the Holy Spirit. For concerning the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, whom Isaiah saw, therefore speaks the Holy Spirit. For He is of the same essence as the Father and the Son, and shares the same power.

Observe how the Jews now plot against Paul: in Judea they were like tyrants, but here, even though rebuked by Paul, they dare say nothing against him, because his case was no longer subject to their authority.

saying: ‘Go to this people and say: In hearing you will hear and certainly not understand, and in looking you will look and certainly not perceive.

Through them, to wit, had "the heart of the People been made thick, lest they should see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with a heart" obstructed by the "fats" of which He had expressly forbidden the eating, teaching man not to be studious of the stomach.

Then that you may not deem it strange that they believed not, he introduces the prophecy which saith "Hearing ye shall hear and not understand," more now than then: "and ye shall see and not perceive" more now than then. This is not spoken for the former sort, but for the unbelievers. How then? Was it contrary to the prophecy, that those believed?

They did this, he says, people who stopped their ears and closed their eyes, who "will not turn, so that I may heal them." This points to the strong impiety and stubborn aversion of these people. This is said in order to attract and dispose them, and to show that if they turn back, they will be healed.

For the heart of this people has grown dull, and with the ears they barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; otherwise they may see with the eyes and hear with the ears and understand with the heart and may turn, and I will heal them.’

Let it therefore be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they themselves will listen!”

[And when he had said these things, the Jews went away, having much discussion among themselves.]

And he abided two whole years in his own rented house, and was welcoming all those coming to him,

proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unhinderedly.

Acts28

Ashore on Malta

Paul Arrives in Italy

Paul Preaches at Rome