28:1 Malta Located 58 miles south of modern Sicily.

28:2 local inhabitants The Greek word used here, barbaros, implies the local inhabitants were considered foreign by the Roman Empire and did not speak the languages or share the customs of either Greeks or Romans.

28:4 this man is a murderer This comment is based on the belief prevalent in Greek mythology that the fates align against people who commit evil.

Justice In Greek mythology, Justice was a goddess. The daughter of Zeus and Themis, she was believed to work circumstantially in establishing people’s fate.

28:6 began saying that he was a god The circumstances were obviously miraculous, leading the people to believe that if such a miraculous event could occur that Paul must be a deity of some sort.

28:7 chief official Evidence of the use of this title has been confirmed by inscriptions found on Malta.

28:12 Syracuse The capital of Sicily, on the southeast coast of the island.

28:13 Rhegium A city at the southern tip of Italy, about 75 miles from Syracuse.

Puteoli This city (modern Pozzuoli), about 130 miles south of the capital, was Rome’s major port at the time.

28:15 the brothers While this is his first visit to Rome, Paul had connections there.

28:17 the most prominent of the Jews Paul goes to the Jews first upon his arrival, as he usually does in Acts (e.g., 13:14; 14:1; 17:10; 19:8).

28:23 the kingdom of God At the beginning of Acts, Jesus describes the values of his kingdom (1:3–8). Luke (the narrator) concludes the book similarly to how it began (compare Luke 1:33; 4:43). See note on Acts 1:3; Mark 1:15.

The Kingdom of God: Already but Not Yet

28:24 refused to believe This divided response is typical of many groups of Jews to whom Paul has preached (e.g., Acts 13:42–45; 14:1–2; 17:4–5).

28:28 sent to the Gentiles Paul’s statement here reflects Jesus’ words at the beginning of Acts: The gospel must go from Jerusalem outward to the ends of the earth. This is a prominent ot theme as well (e.g., Isa 49:6; 66:18; Zech 2:11). Luke’s Gospel also anticipates this (see note on Acts 10:1–8).

28:30 two whole years About ad 60–62. According to the early church fathers, Paul was released from his Roman imprisonment, continued to travel for a few more years—during which he would have written the Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus)—and was eventually martyred in Rome under Nero (circa ad 66). Compare note on 1:1–5.

28:31 without hindrance No one stopped Paul’s ministry, and even though he was essentially under house arrest he continued his ministry with complete freedom. Luke (the narrator) concludes by reasserting a major theme of Acts: The progress of the gospel cannot be stopped.

The Kingdom of God: Already but Not Yet Devotional