Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Acts 28

Act 28:2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

received us every one

Heb 13:2.

Act 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

viper…fastened on his hand [See also Act 28:8.]

Miracles (N.T.). Act 27:3-6, 8-9. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)

Act 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

vengeance

justice.

Act 28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

Paul entered in, and prayed

Jas 5:14-15.

and laid his hands on him

Act 19:11; Mar 16:18; 1Co 12:9, 28.

Act 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

the brethren

Rom 1:8, 12.

Appii forum

the market of Appius.

courage

Jos 1:6-7, 9; 1Sa 30:6; Psa 27:14.

Act 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

a soldier that kept him

the soldier that guarded him. Act 24:23; 27:3.

Act 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

I delivered prisoner

Act 21:33.

Act 28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

would have let me go

Act 26:31.

Act 28:19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar

Act 25:11.

Act 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you

did I entreat you to see and speak with me.

for the hope of Israel

Act 26:6-7.

bound with this chain

Eph 3:1; 6:20; 2Ti 1:10, 12.

Act 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

every where it is spoken against

Luk 2:34; 1Pe 2:12; 1Pe 4:14.

Act 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

he expounded and testified the kingdom of God

Act 17:3; Gen 49:10; Num 24:17; Mal 3:1; 4:2; Luk 24:27; Jhn 1:45; 5:39; Rev 19:10.

Act 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

when they agreed not among themselves

Cf. Act 13:46; 18:6.

Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Rom 1:4. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

by Esaias the prophet

Inspiration. Rom 16:25-26. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Act 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand

2Co 4:4, 6.

Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

understand with their heart

Act 28:26-27; Isa 6:9-10.

converted

i.e. turn again.

Act 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

salvation

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Act 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

his own hired house

It has been much disputed whether Paul endured two Roman imprisonments, from A.D. 62 to 68, or one. The tradition from Clement to Eusebius favours two imprisonments with a year of liberty between. Erdman (W.J.) has pointed out the leaving of Trophimus sick at Miletus, mentioned in 2Ti 4:20, could not have been an occurrence of Paul's last journey to Jerusalem, for then Trophimus was not left (Act 20:4; 21:29), nor of the journey to Rome to appear before Caesar, for then he did not touch at Miletus. To make this incident possible there must have been a release from the first imprisonment, and an interval of ministry and travel.

Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

with all confidence

Act 20:25; Eph 6:19; Phl 1:13-14.