ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Acts 28

Acts 28:1 Malta was on the main route from Myra (27:5) to Rome. God had brought them through the storm and back on course.

Acts 28:4 Justice in Greek can refer to justice or to the name of the goddess who dispenses justice.

Acts 28:7 chief man. Probably a formal title.

Acts 28:8 The description of Publius’s father as having fever and dysentery fits the symptoms of an infection caused by goat’s milk called “Malta fever.”

Acts 28:10 Travelers on ancient ships had to provide their own meals. The hospitable Maltese people gave Paul and his shipmates enough food for the rest of their voyage.

Acts 28:11 After three months probably indicates March (c. a.d. 60). It was now safe to navigate the Mediterranean. The ship of Alexandria was likely a grain ship. Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus and Leda, were viewed as the gods who protected seamen.

Acts 28:12–13 Syracuse was at the eastern end of Sicily. Its fame as a Hellenistic city rivaled that of Athens. Rhegium was at the southern tip of Italy across from Sicily. Puteoli was a major port for Roman traffic. It was 257 miles (413 km) by road up the western coast of Italy from Rhegium.

Acts 28:14 The presence of brothers at Puteoli shows that Christianity had reached Rome by this time (c. a.d. 60) and was widely known in Italy. Luke’s comment, so we came to Rome, may seem premature (Rome was still 130 miles [209 km] away). Perhaps he meant it as a summary statement, indicating the process by which Paul reached Rome.

Acts 28:15 Paul’s party was met by Roman Christians at two points along the way to Rome—the Forum of Appius, some 40 miles (64 km) from Rome, and 12 miles (19 km) farther on at Three Taverns. Paul had written his letter to the Roman church three years earlier. Though he had not personally visited Rome, his greetings at the end of Romans (Rom. 16:1–16) show that he already knew many people there.

Acts 28:16 Allowing Paul to provide his own housing points to his high status as a prisoner and perhaps to the support of local believers.

Acts 28:17–18 The local leaders were probably the elders of the Roman synagogues. Paul’s main purpose in this meeting was to explain his presence in Rome. He declared his innocence of breaking any Jewish law. wished to set me at liberty. See 26:32.

Acts 28:19 no charge to bring. Paul was a loyal Jew. He was innocent of the Jews’ charges against him. He also refused to accuse them of any wrongdoing.

Acts 28:20 The hope of Israel is the arrival of the Messiah, which is proven by his resurrection (see 23:6; 24:15; 26:8; 23).

Acts 28:23 The content of Paul’s message was the kingdom of God and Jesus (see also v. 31). The kingdom represents the fulfillment of God’s saving promises to his people (see note on Matt. 12:28).

Acts 28:24 On the Jews’ pattern of resistance (compare 5:33; 7:51; 12:1; 13:45; 25:11), see note on Amos 4:6.

Acts 28:26–27 Isaiah 6:9–10 is quoted here (compare Matt. 13:14–15). The heart in Scripture is the center of thinking, willing, and deciding.

Acts 28:30–31 Paul shared the gospel with all, both Jews and Gentiles. This situation continued for two whole years (a.d. 60–62). Other sources show that Paul was then released and perhaps traveled to Spain. During his imprisonment Paul wrote the letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. After Paul’s release from his first imprisonment would be when he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. He probably wrote his last letter, 2 Timothy, during his second imprisonment, as he awaited execution (see 2 Tim. 4:6–8).