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Acts 28 immediately follows Acts 27.  Paul and the rest have been shipwrecked on the island of Malta.  Faithful to His word, God preserved the lives of all the men.  The inhabitants of Malta were considered barbarians.  Now let us look at Paul’s stay on the island.

 

  1. We read that the islanders (whom many of the men considered barbarians) showed the shipwrecked men considerable kindness.  What did the islanders do?

 

 

How do you explain these actions coming from “barbarians”?

 

 

What can we learn from the actions of these islanders?

 

 

  1. We read that the islanders are the ones who welcomed them and built a fire to warm them.  Why, then, do you think Paul was gathering wood for the fire?

 

 

What does this act tell us about Paul?

 

 

What lesson does it hold for us?

 

 

  1. What happened to Paul as he put the wood on the fire?

 

 

What did everyone think was going to happen to Paul?  Why?

 

 

What explanation did the islanders give for this happening to Paul?

 

 

Do we in the church apply such “logic” to events around us?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. As the others waited for Paul to die, what did Paul do?

 

 

As time passed, nothing happened to Paul.  How did the islanders account for this?

How do you explain the change in them concerning Paul?

 

 

  1. By all accounts of nature, Paul should have died.  Why didn’t he?

 

 

What can we learn from this?

 

 

  1. Malta was part of the Roman Empire and so had a Roman official living there.  Publius probably did not get many visitors, so he welcomes them into his home.  How important is it that we offer hospitality to others, even shipwrecked prisoners?

 

 

What happens when Paul learns that Publius’ father is sick?

 

 

As a result of this episode with Publius’ father, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul.  What happened?

 

 

Is this an isolated incident or should we expect to see and to participate in similar actions?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. In his stay on Malta, Paul brought the gospel to pagans.  He became a missionary.  How did he reveal the gospel of Jesus Christ to them? 

 

 

What result did Paul’s presentation of the gospel have on them?

 

 

What can we learn about ministering to people who are not familiar with the gospel of Jesus Christ?

 

 

  1. After three months they prepare to leave Malta.  They sail on an Alexandrian ship.  What is the figurehead of a ship?  What was the figurehead of this ship?

 

 

Why do you believe Luke mentioned this fact?

 

 

  1. On their way to Rome, they stopped in Puteoli, where they found some brothers.  How do you believe these brothers came to be in Puteoli?

 

 

Why do you think Paul’s Roman guard allowed him to stay a week with the brothers?

 

 

  1. Finally, after a 2,000 mile journey, Paul arrives in Rome.  News of his arrival had preceded him, and Paul was met by more brothers in Rome.  Paul was still “under arrest” but what special treatment did he receive?

 

 

What does this tell us about the Romans attitude toward Paul?

 

 

  1. Paul had never been to Rome before, yet the brothers there welcomed him and met his needs.  What does this show us about the church?

 

 

What can we learn as a local church body?

 

 

  1. Paul wastes no time.  Verse 17 tells us that three days after arriving in Rome, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews.  What does Paul tell them?  (Read vv. 17-20.) 

 

 

 

Why did Paul do this?

 

 

  1. What do the leaders of the Jews reply in response to Paul’s concern?

 

 

What request do they make of Paul?

 

 

Based on these scriptures, why might Paul have been sent to Rome?

 

 

  1. Paul makes arrangements to meet with the leaders on a certain day.  When that day came, even larger numbers of people came to hear Paul.  We read in verse 23 that Paul spoke from morning till evening.  What was Paul’s objective?

 

 

Briefly look at a synopsis of the book of Romans, and we will get an idea of what was taking place.  What are some of the major themes covered in Romans?

 

 

Could you speak from morning until evening convincing people that Jesus is the Christ?  If the answer is “No,” what can we do to change this?

 

 

  1. Read vv. 24-25.  What was their response to Paul’s message?

 

 

  1. We read that the Jews left following Paul’s final statement.  In your own words, what was this final statement?

 

 

What do verses 26-27 mean to you?

 

 

What do you think they meant to the Jews?

 

 

  1. Why do you think Paul ended with the statement in verse 28?

 

 

How do you think the Jews reacted to this statement?

 

 

What implications does it hold for us today?

 

 

  1. Acts ends by telling us that for two whole years Paul welcomed people into his rented home.  Why do you think no further mention is made of Paul’s trial?

 

 

Based on this abrupt ending, what would you say the book of Acts is about?

 

 

  1. Read v. 31.  In what way does this verse summarize Paul’s life?

 

 

What does this verse mean to you?

 

 

  1. What are some of the theories about Paul’s fate?

 

 

  1. What has this study of Acts meant to you?

 

 

What have you learned and how has it affected you personally?

 

 

What can we, as the church, learn from Acts?