Acts · WEB-C
Acts
28
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When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. See also: Acts 27:26Acts 27:44Acts 27:39The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold. See also: Hebrews 13:2Romans 1:14Colossians 3:11But 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. See also: Matthew 23:33Matthew 12:342 Corinthians 11:23When 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.” See also: Luke 13:2Luke 13:4Acts 28:2However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. See also: Luke 10:19Mark 16:18Psalms 91:13But 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. See also: Acts 12:22Acts 14:11-13Matthew 21:9Now 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. See also: Matthew 10:40-41Acts 28:2Acts 23:24The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. See also: Acts 9:40Mark 6:5James 5:14-16Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured. See also: Mark 6:54-56Matthew 4:24Acts 5:15They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed. See also: 1 Thessalonians 2:6Matthew 6:31-34Philippians 4:11-12After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.” See also: Acts 27:6Isaiah 45:201 Corinthians 8:4Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, See also: Acts 27:13where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. See also: Acts 21:4Genesis 8:10-12Acts 20:6From 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. See also: Hebrews 13:3Romans 15:24Galatians 4:14When 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. See also: Acts 27:3Acts 24:23Romans 1:7-15After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, “I, brothers, though I had done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, still was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, See also: Acts 25:8Acts 6:14Acts 25:10who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me. See also: Acts 26:31-32Acts 23:29Acts 22:24-25But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything about which to accuse my nation. See also: Acts 26:32Acts 25:25Acts 25:21For 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.” See also: Acts 26:6-72 Timothy 2:9Ephesians 6:20They 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. See also: Isaiah 54:17Isaiah 50:8Isaiah 41:11But 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.” See also: Acts 24:141 Peter 2:121 Peter 3:16When 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. See also: Acts 17:2-3Acts 19:8Acts 18:28Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. See also: Acts 14:4Acts 17:4-5Acts 19:8-9When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, See also: Matthew 15:7Mark 7:62 Peter 1:21saying, ‘Go to this people and say, in hearing, you will hear, but will in no way understand. In seeing, you will see, but will in no way perceive. See also: Isaiah 6:9-10Ezekiel 12:2Isaiah 42:19-20For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, then I would heal them.’ See also: Isaiah 6:10“Be it known therefore to you that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.” See also: Luke 2:30-32Acts 26:17-18Romans 3:29-30When he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves. Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house and received all who were coming to him, preaching God’s Kingdom and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. See also: Ephesians 6:19-20Acts 4:29Matthew 4:23
See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)9 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Acts 28:1
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
Ver. 1. Melita, now called Malta, famous for being the residence of, and giving the title to, the military order of Knights, who strenuously resisted the Turks, when they threatened to overrun Christendom. The inhabitants are called Barbarians, not as a term of reproach, for the manner he speaks of their humanity testifies the contrary; but in the classical sense of the word, it was applied by the Greeks and Romans to all who did not speak either of those languages. Their hospitality was rewarded by the light of faith, which they still maintain, although infidels have sometimes for a century had dominion over this island. Tirinus, &c.
↑ 1Acts 28:4
Ver. 4. Murderer. In this instance we see how unfounded are the judgments of men. As if the misfortune itself were not sufficient to endure, the man upon whom any temporal calamity falls, must be also judged to be an object of divine vengeance. How cruel and preposterous, yet how common are such proceedings! Whence can it happen that man is so forward to think evil, so slow to suspect good in his neighbour? A. — Not to live. The inhabitants of the island, called Barbarians, had a notion of a Deity, and also that murder was against the law of God and nature. Wi.
↑ 4Acts 28:6
Ver. 6. That he would suddenly fall down and die. It is not then by the natural situation and temper of the air, that this island has no venomous creatures. Wi.
↑ 6Acts 28:16
Ver. 16. To dwell by himself, with a soldier that guarded him. S. Paul was chained, as it appears by the 20th verse: and it was the custom to fasten one end of the chain by a lock to the prisoner's wrist, and the other end of the chain to the wrist of the soldier who was to guard him. In most Greek copies we read: the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guards: as it is in the Prot. translation, and very probable; but these words are not found in divers Greek MSS. nor were read by the ancient interpreter of the Latin Vulgate. Wi. — S. Chrysostom attributes this liberty S. Paul enjoyed at Rome of going whither he liked, to their admiration of him. Hom. liv. in Acts. — Others to the moderation of Afranius Burrus, who was prefect of the Prætorium in the year 61, and who used his authority, as long as he possessed any over Nero's mind, to repress that emperor's bad inclinations, and direct his councils with wisdom. Calmet.
↑ 16Acts 28:17
Ver. 17. Chief of the Jews. We have seen before, that the emperor Claudius banished all Jews from Rome. It would appear from this verse, that many of the principal Jews returned at his death, which happened five years before S.
Paul's arrival. Calmet.
↑ 17Acts 28:20
Ver. 20. Because that for the hope of Israel. That is, of the Messias, so long expected and hoped for by the Israelites. Wi. — According to the Roman custom, S. Paul must have been fastened by the right hand to one end of a chain, the other end of which chain held to the left hand of the soldier who guarded him. V.
↑ 20Acts 28:22
Ver. 22. It is every where gainsayed. Here we observe one of the characters of the true religion. It is contradicted and spoken against. As singular as this may appear, it is however true. Jesus, the author of that religion, had foretold it should be so. If the world hateth me, it will hate you also. The situation of the Catholic religion in this country, at present, is something similar to what is related here of Christianity: and those who have the candour to inquire seriously into its merits, have generally the reward of being convinced and of believing in it. Christianity, like some plants, grows the better for being trodden upon. A.
↑ 22Acts 28:30
Ver. 30. Two whole years in his own hired lodging. That is, in the lodgings which S. Paul was permitted to hire for himself, and to live there, with a soldier chained to him for his guard. Happy soldier, if he knew how to make use of such a favourable opportunity! We may take notice by all this narration of S.
Luke, (as when he says here, v. 16, when we arrived at Rome, &c.) that he was all the way in the ship with S. Paul. Wi.
↑ 30Acts 28:31
Ver. 31. Here terminates the history of S. Paul, as contained in the Acts of the Apostles. The other actions of this great apostle, for want of being recorded, are involved in much obscurity. That he obtained his liberty again, and made many voyages to carry the light of the gospel into many countries, is certain: but nothing is known as to the manner or time. He finished his labours by martyrdom, being beheaded at Rome in the 66th of the Christian æra, and the 13th of Nero. What a degree of virtue might we not attain, were we animated by the spirit and courage of a S. Paul. Let us at least try to imitate his example; and, if in dangers and difficulties we cannot clothe our souls in adamant, as he did, we may certainly avoid yielding ingloriously to every light impression. Let us at an humble distance tread in his footsteps and live so that we may navigate in safety the boisterous ocean of life, and by the grace of Jesus Christ arrive at the port, where danger is no more to be apprehended. S. Chrys.
hom. lv. in Act. ad finem.
↑ 31License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses