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Questions for Acts 28:1-31

Key verses 28:31

PAUL PROCLAIMED THE KINGDOM OF GOD

WITH ALL BOLDNESS

1. How did the people of Malta show hospitality to Paul and his companions (1-2)? How did the islanders’ view of Paul change after the viper’s bite (3-6)? What impact did Paul’s miracle have on the people of Malta (7-10)?
2. Trace Paul’s journey from Malta to Rome (11-14). How did the brothers and sisters there welcome Paul (14-15)? What were Paul’s living arrangements in Rome (16)?
3. When Paul spoke to the local Jewish leaders, what main points did he emphasize (17-20)? What might Paul have meant by “the hope of Israel” (23:6; 26:6-7)? How did the Jewish leaders react to Paul’s message (21-22)?
4. When Paul met with the Jewish leaders again, what message did he focus on (23)? How did they respond (24-25a)? What was the significance of Paul’s final statement to them (25b-28)?
5. During the two years in his rented house, what activities did Paul engage in (30-31)? How would you describe the importance of proclaiming the gospel “with all boldness and without hindrance”? What lessons can our church community take from this passage?

Acts 2024 Juan Seo (Nov 17, 2024)

PAUL PROCLAIMED THE KINGDOM OF GOD

WITH ALL BOLDNESS AND WITHOUT HINDRANCE

Acts 28:1-31

Key Verse 28:31

He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

If you were to write an autobiography or someone were to write a biography about you, how would you want the conclusion to be written? A typical conclusion of a biography might say, “On November 17, 2024, he took his last breath. He is gone, but his teachings and achievements will live on in our hearts forever,” focusing on the final moments of life. However, the conclusion of the Book of Acts does not mention Paul’s death. Of course, Acts is not a biography of the Apostle Paul. As we learned when we began studying this book, Acts is a record of how the gospel of Jesus Christ spread in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth through the work of the Holy Spirit. Its conclusion is profoundly impactful: “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”

Last week, we learned that the ship taking Paul to Rome was shipwrecked. But by the grace of God and Paul’s spiritual leadership, all 276 people on board reached land safely. The island they arrived at was Malta, located in the central Mediterranean Sea, 58 miles south of Sicily. Although small, it has been geopolitically significant and was historically ruled by various powers such as the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, French, and British. In 1964, it became independent from Britain, and in 2004, it joined the EU. Today, Malta is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches, which are particularly favored by couples for their honeymoons.

The people of Malta are said to be very kind. The author of Acts, Luke, wrote, “The islanders showed us unusual kindness.” They built a fire and welcomed the 276 shipwreck survivors, who were shivering from the rain and cold. Additionally, they provided shelter and food for them during their three-month stay on the island. How warm-hearted these people were! God blessed the people of Malta through Apostle Paul, who performed two miracles on the island.

What was the first miracle? Paul was serving others by gathering a pile of brushwood and putting it on the fire. Paul demonstrated servant leadership like Jesus. However, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. The islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, and they were likely shocked by the sight. They said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” The Maltese people believed in the goddess of Justice and thought Paul was cursed for his sins and would die. However, Paul shook the snake off into the fire as if nothing had happened. He reassured the frightened people, saying, “It’s fine; nothing will happen.” Indeed, Paul suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after a long time passed and nothing unusual happened, their perspective completely changed. Those who initially thought Paul was a murderer changed their minds and declared him to be a god. In an instant, Paul went from being accused of murder to being considered a god.

How could such a miracle happen? When Jesus gave his disciples the command to preach the gospel to all creation, he gave them a promise: “¹⁵ Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:15-18). This promise of Jesus was fulfilled through the Apostle Paul. Even though Paul was bitten by a viper, nothing happened to him. Later, he also healed many people from sickness. Do you believe in Jesus’ promise? Jesus said, “These signs will accompany those who believe.” Therefore, if we believe in Jesus’ promise, this promise will also be fulfilled in our lives. However, this verse does not mean that we should intentionally test God. If we deliberately approach a viper and get bitten, we will die. It means that if such things happen while we are fulfilling our mission, Jesus will protect us.

What was the second miracle God showed through Paul? There was a man named Publius, the chief official of Malta. He was the most influential person on the island. Out of great kindness, he welcomed the shipwreck survivors into his home and showed them generous hospitality for three days. His house must have been large, and he must have been wealthy to host so many people. However, Publius had a serious problem—his father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul and Luke, who had received such warm hospitality, went to see his father. Luke, being a physician, likely diagnosed his condition. Paul placed his hands on Publius’s father and prayed for him. Immediately, he was healed. Publius must have been overjoyed and amazed at this miraculous power. Moreover, all the sick people on the island came to Paul, and he healed every one of them. A remarkable work of grace occurred, where all the sick on the island were healed through the Apostle Paul. Surely, Paul shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, and the people of Malta received Jesus as their Savior. In this way, the entire island of Malta was evangelized.

Historically, after Paul’s evangelism on the island of Malta, it became an important center for the spread of the gospel. Malta played a significant role in connecting the Roman Church with the North African Church. According to Christian tradition, Publius became the first bishop of Malta. More than 90% of Malta's population today identifies as Roman Catholic. I believe the island of Malta received such spiritual blessings because its people showed hospitality to the shipwreck survivors. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” This scripture reminds us of Abraham, who welcomed angels without knowing it, and God blessed him. If we welcome and show hospitality to strangers in our homes, God will surely bless us. When we open our homes to those in need, we will receive God’s blessings. Let us pray that we can practice hospitality faithfully.

The Apostle Paul became a blessing wherever he went. Through him, the people of Malta were healed, accepted Jesus as their Savior, and were filled with joy. This reflects the spiritual influence of God’s servants. I pray that we may become blessings for others wherever we are. May the gospel be spread through us, and may those around us encounter Jesus, receive salvation, and be filled with joy.

Now, let us look at the Apostle Paul’s ministry in Rome. After spending three months on the island of Malta, Paul and his companions set sail for Rome on an Alexandrian ship. They traveled approximately 80 miles from Malta to Syracuse, 70 miles from Syracuse to Rhegium, and 210 miles from Rhegium to Puteoli, covering a total of 360 miles. Their voyage was smooth, and they likely arrived in a week.

In Puteoli, Paul met some brothers and sisters and spent a week in a time of gracious fellowship. From Puteoli, they traveled to Rome by land. Hearing the news of Paul’s journey to Rome, the believers in Rome came out to meet him, traveling 40 miles to the Forum of Appius and 30 miles to the Three Taverns. These believers had likely read the letter Paul wrote to them about three years earlier. The Book of Romans gave the Roman Christians great strength and spiritual direction. As they read it, they must have been deeply touched by Paul’s profound understanding of and passion for the gospel. They admired Paul, who had dedicated his life to the Lord and the gospel. Thus, upon hearing that he was coming to Rome, they traveled far to greet him. Because of this, Paul thanked God and was encouraged. How would you feel if the Apostle Paul were to visit our church? Wouldn’t you be excited to meet such a great servant of God? I imagine the privilege of learning the gospel’s truth more deeply and entering into a profound spiritual understanding through him. If that were the case, I would surely go to JFK Airport to welcome him!

When Paul arrived in Rome, he was allowed to live by himself with a soldier to guard him. This indicates that he was under house arrest, a more favorable condition than being confined in a Roman prison. However, his hands were still bound with chains (Eph 6:20). This treatment may have been due to the Roman centurion Julius, who brought Paul from Caesarea to Rome, giving a detailed report of his experiences with Paul. Julius may have testified that Paul saved all 276 people and requested favorable treatment for Paul. Additionally, Festus’ report indicated that Paul was innocent. Furthermore, Paul was a Roman citizen. Paul’s house arrest instead of imprisonment was part of God’s providence. It allowed people who wanted to meet Paul to visit him freely, and Paul was able to share the gospel with them.

Paul continued to practice his mission principle in Rome: to preach the gospel first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. We see throughout his ministry that Paul always went to the Jewish synagogues first to share the gospel. This was because Paul deeply loved his own people, the Jews, who had been chosen by God. In Romans, Paul expressed his love for them, saying, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people” (Romans 9:2-3). In Rome, Paul tried to share the gospel with the Jewish people first. He called together the local Jewish leaders and met with them multiple times. However, what was the result? Although Paul testified from morning till evening about the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, many of the Jews did not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave. Paul quoted the prophecy of Isaiah and said, “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.” Once again, Paul proclaimed to the Jews that God’s salvation had been extended to the Gentiles.

Let’s read verses 30-31 together: “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance.” These two verses are the final verses of the Book of Acts, and they describe Paul’s ministry in Rome. For two years, Paul stayed in his own rented house. What did he do during this time?

First, Paul welcomed all who came to see him. Paul opened his rented house to others. He welcomed everyone who came to him. This was not an easy thing to do. We often prefer to enjoy our homes privately without interruptions. Paul, under 24-hour watch by a guard, had no privacy. Yet, even so, he must have had times when he wanted to rest or be alone. But whenever people came to see him, he welcomed them. Paul enjoyed meeting and talking with people about the kingdom of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. What kind of life do you want to live when you become elderly and retire? Do you wish to live and die alone? Or would you rather have many people visit you, share fellowship with you, and hear the gospel through you? When someone comes to our homes, it is a great blessing because we can share the love of Jesus with them.

Second, Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ to those who came to see him. The kingdom of God is the reign of God. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become people of God’s kingdom, living under His rule. When people visited Paul, they heard about God’s kingdom and the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ. They believed in Jesus and became the people of God’s kingdom. In this way, the gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Luke’s statement that Paul “proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance” is truly remarkable. We can easily agree that Paul preached the gospel with all boldness. But can we really agree that he preached without hindrance? Paul was under house arrest. His hands were bound in chains. A guard watched him 24 hours a day. Clearly, Paul faced many hindrances. So why did Luke record that Paul preached without hindrance? This means that these human hindrances could not stop Paul’s passion for spreading the gospel. The restrictive circumstances in which Paul lived did not hinder the gospel from being preached and spreading throughout the Roman Empire. Instead, the gospel advanced even more actively. Paul himself affirmed this in Philippians 1:12: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” Paul saw his imprisonment as a means through which the gospel work progressed. Though Paul was confined in chains and limited to a rented house, the gospel of God was never confined. On the contrary, God’s gospel always advances, and God’s kingdom continues to grow.

What was the result of the gospel Paul preached to those who visited him in his rented house? Ultimately, the gospel of Christ conquered the Roman Empire. In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine proclaimed religious tolerance, which allowed Christianity to be practiced freely within the Roman Empire. In 380 AD, Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. From there, Christianity spread throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Today, more than 2.6 billion people—over 30% of the world’s population—are Christians. Christianity has become the largest religion in the world.

It is truly amazing that the remarkable growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire began in Paul’s rented house. We often say that we cannot spread the gospel because of many hindrances. One of the biggest hindrances is that we feel we don’t have enough time. There is also the fear of being rejected when we share the gospel. Some may even think that sharing the gospel is socially bothersome to others. However, such things must not become hindrances to the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must learn from Paul’s passion, who, even in a rented house with chains on his hands, preached the gospel with all boldness and without hindrance.

The Book of Acts does not record any further details about Paul’s life. However, it is said that Paul was released after two years and visited Asia again. He may have even traveled to Spain. Later, he was imprisoned in Rome once more, and around AD 64, during Emperor Nero’s persecution, Paul was martyred by beheading. Paul’s life is truly inspiring. He overcame every difficult circumstance and sang a song of victory: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8).

Today, we conclude our study of the Book of Acts. We deeply thank God for blessing us throughout the year 2024 with the study of Acts. The gospel work of God has continued and will continue. God wants to use us to carry on and fulfill His gospel work. May we proclaim the kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. Amen.