Acts 28 is the closing chapter of the book of Acts, and it is about how the good news of Jesus travels from a shipwreck on Malta to the capital of the Roman Empire. People read it for a clear picture of Paul’s final stretch of ministry: his care for others on the island, his conversations with Rome’s Jewish leaders, and the two years he spent preaching openly in his own rented house. It is a chapter about God’s faithfulness along the road, even when the road is long, dangerous, and under guard.
Acts 28 Summary
The chapter opens after the shipwreck, with Paul and his companions on the island of Malta. Local people welcome them, and Paul is bitten by a viper without harm, which changes how the islanders see him. He then heals the father of Publius, the island’s chief man, and many others follow. After three months the group sails on to Italy, arriving in Puteoli and walking the final stretch to Rome, where fellow believers come out to greet them.
In Rome, Paul calls together the local Jewish leaders and explains why he has come in chains. Some of them are persuaded, others refuse to believe, and Paul closes with a quotation from Isaiah and a declaration that God’s salvation is going to the nations. The chapter ends with Paul living under house arrest for two years, welcoming visitors and preaching the kingdom of God with complete boldness.
Background and Setting
Acts was written by Luke, the companion of Paul, and is traditionally dated to the early 60s AD, though scholars debate the exact year. Luke wrote to a person named Theophilus, and his wider audience was likely the young Christian communities scattered across the Roman world. Acts 28 forms the climax of the book, showing the gospel moving from Jerusalem through Judea, Samaria, and the nations until it reaches the heart of the empire.
The chapter sits at the end of Paul’s long journey to Rome, which began with his arrest in Jerusalem. Luke’s narrative has been building toward this moment, and the closing scene leaves the story open-ended, with Paul still teaching and the message still spreading. That openness is part of the chapter’s purpose: the work of God continues beyond the last page.
Acts 28 Section by Section
Verses 1-6: The Viper and the Changed Minds
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” 5 However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. 6 But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
Acts 28:3-6 (WEB)
After the shipwreck, the survivors find themselves on Malta, where the islanders show them unusual kindness by building a fire against the rain and cold. When a viper fastens onto Paul’s hand as he gathers sticks, the locals assume he must be a murderer being punished by justice. Paul shakes the creature off into the fire and suffers no harm, and their assumption flips into the conclusion that he must be a god.
The story teaches you to notice how quickly people reach conclusions about others based on appearances and circumstances. The islanders are wrong in both directions, condemning Paul too soon and then exalting him too far. Paul does not correct them by taking the praise; the point of the episode is that God is at work, and Paul simply continues faithfully doing what is in front of him.
Verses 7-10: Healing on the Island
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and courteously entertained us for three days. 8 The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9 Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured.
Acts 28:7-9 (WEB)
Publius, the chief man of the island, welcomes Paul and his companions and hosts them courteously for three days. When Publius’s father lies sick with fever and dysentery, Paul enters his room, prays, and lays hands on him, and the man is healed. Word spreads, and the rest of the island’s sick come and are cured, which leads to honors and practical provision for the travelers as they leave.
Luke does not explain the healings in detail, but he presents them as the fruit of prayer offered in the name of Jesus. The passage shows the church’s compassion overflowing into concrete help, both for the sick and for the strangers who depend on local hospitality. Paul’s ministry here is marked by prayer, humble service, and gratitude toward those who opened their homes to him.
Verses 11-16: The Journey to Rome
14 Where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. 15 From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and took courage. 16 When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Acts 28:14-16 (WEB)
After three months the travelers board an Alexandrian ship and sail through Syracuse and Rhegium, arriving at Puteoli. There they find believers who invite them to stay for a week, and then they travel on to Rome. Fellow believers come out to meet them along the Appian Way, and Paul thanks God and takes courage when he sees them.
The reception on the road shows the encouragement that comes from belonging to a wider family of faith. Paul has traveled a long and difficult path, and he finds strength not in his own resources but in the company of brothers and sisters and in his gratitude to God. The arrival in Rome, under guard but among friends, sets the stage for the rest of the chapter.
Verses 17-22: Paul Speaks to the Jewish Leaders
20 For this cause therefore I asked to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” 21 They said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
Acts 28:20-22 (WEB)
Three days after arriving, Paul calls together the leaders of the Jews in Rome and explains that he was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem even though he had done nothing against his people or their customs. He appealed to Caesar, not to accuse his nation, but because he wanted to explain his hope in Israel’s God. The leaders reply that they have received no letters about him and that they want to hear his views on the sect that is spoken against everywhere.
Paul’s approach is patient and respectful. He does not attack his accusers or minimize his own suffering, but he states plainly that the hope of Israel is the reason he is bound with a chain. The exchange models how a believer can speak honestly about faith to people who are curious, skeptical, or uninformed, without losing the calm and clarity that marked Paul’s whole witness.
Verses 23-31: Persuasion, Division, and Open Preaching
23 When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers…
Acts 28:23-25 (WEB)
On an appointed day many people gather at Paul’s lodging, and he testifies about God’s kingdom and persuades them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning until evening. Some believe and some refuse, and when they cannot agree, Paul quotes Isaiah about hearts that have grown dull, and he announces that God’s salvation is sent to the nations. The chapter closes with two years of house arrest in which Paul receives all who come and preaches the kingdom with all boldness and without hindrance.
Luke ends his book without describing Paul’s trial or his death, and that silence invites reflection. The message does not depend on any one man’s freedom, because the word of God keeps moving even when the messenger is confined. The last verse describes a witness that is unhindered in the most important sense, which encourages readers to trust that God’s purposes are not stopped by chains, shipwrecks, or closed doors.
Key Themes in Acts 28
- God’s providence on the road: Shipwreck, serpent, and sickness do not derail the plan that God has set for Paul’s journey to Rome.
- Hospitality and gratitude: The islanders, Publius, and the believers in Puteoli all open their homes, and Luke records each act of kindness.
- Prayer and healing: Paul’s ministry on Malta is rooted in prayer and laying on of hands, pointing to God as the source of every good work.
- The hope of Israel: Paul explains that his chains are tied to the promises God made to his people, a hope fulfilled in Jesus.
- Unhindered witness: The book ends with the gospel preached boldly and openly, a sign that the word of God is not bound.
Lessons From Acts 28 for Today
Many people face long seasons of waiting, delay, or confinement, whether in a hospital bed, a job with no clear direction, or a family situation that feels stuck. Acts 28 shows that God can be faithful in those places. Paul does not stop serving when his circumstances shrink; he welcomes visitors, prays for the sick, and keeps speaking about Jesus. Asking what faithful work is available right where you are can be a concrete response to a season that feels like a detour.
The chapter also invites you to be generous with ordinary hospitality. A meal shared with a neighbor who is struggling, a spare room offered to a traveler, or a phone call to someone who is far from home can carry the same spirit as the believers who met Paul on the Appian Way. Acts 28 suggests that encouragement often comes through simple, faithful people who show up at the right moment.
Questions for Reflection
- Where in your life have you seen God’s hand at work during a delay or a setback you did not choose?
- How do you respond when people quickly judge you or someone else based on a single difficult moment?
- Who has offered you hospitality or encouragement on a hard road, and how can you thank them this week?
- What would it look like for you to speak about your faith with patience and clarity, even to people who disagree?
- In what ways can you keep sharing the good news where you are, even when your freedom or options feel limited?
A Prayer From Acts 28
Lord, thank you that you guide the journeys we did not plan and that your purposes are not stopped by storms, chains, or closed doors. Give me eyes to notice the kindness of strangers and the small needs around me, and make me ready to offer the same generosity. When I feel confined by circumstances I cannot change, remind me that you are still at work, and help me keep serving you faithfully in the place where you have put me. Let my words about Jesus be clear, patient, and bold, trusting that your word is not bound. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acts end so abruptly?
Luke does not record the outcome of Paul’s trial or his death, which has led scholars to propose several explanations. Many believe the ending is intentional, leaving readers focused on the ongoing spread of the gospel rather than on one man’s fate. The final verses emphasize that the message continues to be preached without hindrance.
Did Paul really survive the viper bite on Malta?
Luke reports that Paul shook the creature into the fire and suffered no harm, and he presents this as a sign to the islanders. Readers can take the account as a historical report while recognizing its purpose in showing God’s protection. The story focuses on the reaction of the people more than on the medical details.
What does it mean that Paul was “bound with this chain”?
Paul uses the image to explain that his imprisonment is connected to the hope of Israel, the promise of God’s redemption that centers on Jesus. He is not ashamed of the chain, because it is tied to a message he believes is true. The phrase reminds readers that suffering for faith can be part of faithful witness.