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Acts 28:1–5. Having escaped, those who were with Paul learned that the island was called Melitus. The foreigners showed us considerable kindness, for they, due to the former rain and cold, lit a fire and accepted us all. When Paul gathered a lot of brushwood and put it on the fire, then a viper came out from the heat and hung on his hand. The foreigners, when they saw the snake hanging on his hand, said to each other: surely this man is a murderer, when the judgment of God does not allow him, having escaped from the sea, to live. But he, shaking the snake into the fire, did not suffer any harm. While Paul was gathering brushwood, a viper bit his hand and did him no harm, because the holy man was the perfecter of the faith. Having put a thorn into the apostle’s hand and not finding a sinful ulcer in it, the viper immediately jumped back and threw itself into the fire, as if seeking punishment for itself. We are afraid of animals because we do not have the full armor of virtue. "They spoke to each other". Look: natural judgment is full of truthfulness and among the barbarians they do not simply condemn, but speak with each other with a feeling of compassion. Acts 28:6. They expected that he would have inflammation, or that he would suddenly fall dead; but, having waited a long time and seeing that no trouble had happened to him, they changed their minds and said that he was God. They thought that Paul's body would burst. "Waiting a Long Time". The miracle did not appear suddenly, but people waited for it for some time. Thus, this phenomenon was not deception or simple dexterity. "They said he was God". Since it was their custom to call anyone who did something extraordinary a god, just as the ancients called gods those who, whether by physical strength, like Hercules, performed greater feats than his contemporaries, or drove spectators crazy with the art of magic, like Simon in Samaria. Acts 28:7–10. Near that place were the estates of the chief of the island, the name of Publius; he received us and treated us in a friendly manner for three days. Publius's father lay suffering from fever and abdominal pain; Paul went in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. After this event, others on the island who had illnesses came and were healed; and they showed us a lot of honor and provided us with what we needed when we left. Publius was a hospitable man, because he received them without knowing anything about them, but only out of compassion for their fate, and gave peace to two hundred and eighty people, seeing this as beneficial for himself. “Publius’s father lay suffering from fever and abdominal pain.” Dysentery, a difficult-to-treat disease, healed by Paul, converted many to faith in Christ. Acts 28:11–14. Three months later we sailed on an Alexandrian ship called Dioscuri, which wintered on that island, and, sailing to Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. Sailing from there, we arrived in Rigia; and when the south wind blew a day later, they arrived on the second day at Puteoli, where they found the brothers, and were asked to stay with them for seven days, and then they went to Rome. Almost always, especially on Alexandrian ships, it was the custom to make such images near the bow of the ship on the right and left. And since, during the reign of idolatry at that time, the Dioscuri were probably depicted on this ship, we conclude from this that the shipowner on it was a foreigner and an idolater. Acts 28:15–16. The local brothers, having heard about us, came out to meet us as far as Appian Square and three hotels. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged. When it says “as far as the Appian Square and the three hotels,” it refers to some areas in front of Rome. First, Appian Square - the area where the statue of Appius was located; This is probably why this area is called the square in front of the statue. “When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and was encouraged.” Although Paul performed so many miracles, he received more boldness from seeing the brethren. From here we learn that he humanly accepted both consolation and opposite attitudes towards it. Acts 28:16–18. When we arrived in Rome, the centurion handed over the prisoners to the military commander, and Paul was allowed to live separately with the soldier guarding him. Three days later, Paul called together the noblest of the Jews and, when they came together, he said to them: Men and brethren! Having done nothing against the people or the customs of my fathers, I was handed over from Jerusalem in chains into the hands of the Romans. They, having judged me, wanted to release me, because there is no guilt in me worthy of death. Paul was so respected that he was allowed to remain alone; since if until now the centurion had treated him favorably, now he became even more favorably. “With a soldier guarding him” in order to prevent the possibility of new intrigues against Paul so that the soldier did not watch him, but to ensure that there was no trouble with him. Acts 28:19–20. But since the Jews contradicted, I was forced to demand a trial from Caesar, although not in order to accuse my people of anything. For this reason I called you to see and talk with you, for for the hope of Israel I am bound with these bonds. Since Paul knew that it was completely inappropriate to be put on trial, especially by an unbeliever, he defends himself on both sides, namely: that he did not act against the law, but, on the contrary, he himself was deliberately unjustly condemned by the Jews and that he did not name Caesar of his own free will, but because the Jews themselves gave him a reason to do so, since they did not deign to judge him according to the law of the Church, nor to submit to the legitimate opinion of the authorities. The authorities wanted to let him go; They did not release him because the Jews opposed it. So what? To accuse the Jews, did you do what you called Caesar? No, he says, to avoid danger. “For the hope of Israel I am bound with these bonds.” That is, the Scriptures provided the Jews with one hope - Christ, preaching which Paul found himself in this state of a prisoner. Acts 28:21–22. They said to him: We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers who came know about you or said anything bad. However, it would be desirable for us to hear from you how you think. Even before Paul arrived in Rome, the Jews were inspired not to accept preaching about Christ, and not only to the Roman Jews, but to all Jews throughout the entire earth. But how is this known? In the writings of ancient writers we find that the priests, scribes and elders who lived in Jerusalem, having written messages, sent them throughout all countries to the Jews living in them; in these messages they blasphemed the teaching of Christ as a teaching alien to God, and urged not to accept it. The same thing seems to be meant by the following prophecy of Isaiah: “Woe to the land that spreads its wings on the other side of the Ethiopian rivers, sending messengers across the sea, and in papyrus vessels across the waters!” (Is.18, 1–2). This means that the wicked voice of the people who inhabited Judea spread on fast ships beyond the borders of the Ethiopian land and to the ends of the earth, and that their “ambassadors”, sailing on the waters and crossing the sea, penetrated into all countries, carrying messages and denigrating the teaching about our Savior. It is still the custom among the Jews to call ambassadors, messengers, persons who carry district letters from their superiors. The next part of the prophecy - “go, quick ambassadors, to a strong and vigorous people” - (ibid., 2) - speaks of the Savior’s disciples, whom the prophecy calls “quick ambassadors” - in contrast to the Jewish ones mentioned by him and due to the fact that they are evangelists to all people. Acts 28:23–24. And having appointed a day for him, many came to his hotel; and from morning to evening he expounded to them the doctrine of the Kingdom of God, bringing evidence and confirming them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets. Some were convinced by his words, while others did not believe. The Jews call faith in Christ heresy. But they also testify that Christ is preached everywhere, although not everyone accepts this preaching, and some of the Jews and Greeks even oppose it. Acts 28:25. Not agreeing with each other, they left when Paul said the following words: Well the Holy Spirit said to our fathers through the prophet Isaiah: Observe how the Jews are now plotting against Paul: in Judea they were, as it were, tyrants, but here, even reproached by Paul, they do not dare to say anything against him, because the matter about him was no longer left to their power. “The Holy Spirit has spoken well.” Here Paul opportunely defeats those who claim that the Holy Spirit is a servant of the Father, because he calls the Holy Spirit the Lord, sitting “on a high and exalted throne,” Whom Isaiah saw (Isaiah 6:1), since the Holy Spirit is consubstantial with the Father and the Son and has equal power with Them. Acts 28:26–29. “Go to this people and say: You will hear by hearing, but will not understand; and you will look with your eyes and will not see. For the heart of this people has become hardened, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, so that I may heal them” (Is. 6:9-10). “Let it be known to you, therefore, that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also hear. When he said this, the Jews left, arguing a lot among themselves. This was done, he says, by people who covered their ears and closed their eyes, who “will not turn so that I can heal them.” The strong wickedness and stubborn aversion of these people is indicated. This is said in order to attract and win them over and to show that if they convert, they will be healed. “For the heart of these people has become hardened.” This is not said in the sense that God, Who wants everyone to be saved and to come into the mind of truth, helps them not to see, as if jealous that they would not hear, but we are used to talking like this about people who move away and do not want to hear the words of salvation. Such a person runs and turns away so as not to hear a word that could convert him and keep him from evil. Acts 28:30–31. And Paul lived for two whole years at his own expense and received everyone who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness without restraint. Paul did not act like that Diogenes, who dressed in rags and lived in a barrel, who surprised many with what they had no need for, and brought no benefit to anyone. Paul did no such thing because he did not set his sights on ambition. On the contrary, Paul dressed with all possible decency, lived constantly in the house and showed every concern for decency, which the mentioned cynic neglected, violating it publicly, living intemperately and being carried away by a passion for glory. If anyone decides to look for the reasons for his living in a barrel, he will not find any other reason except vanity. And Paul even paid for the premises he occupied in Rome. You might be interested in: