Question 1

Why did the people on Malta first think Paul was a murderer and then a god?

Accepted Answer

The islanders saw a snake fasten onto Paul’s hand and assumed it was divine punishment. In their minds, if he had escaped drowning but was bitten, some higher power was finally catching him. When he simply shook the snake into the fire and did not swell up or die, they watched for a long time, expecting him to fall. When nothing happened, they swung to the opposite extreme and said he was a god. This shows how people can judge quickly from outward events without really knowing God’s ways.

Question 2

What is the point of Paul surviving the viper bite with no harm?

Accepted Answer

Paul’s survival shows God’s special protection over him as His servant. Humanly, a viper’s bite should have caused swelling or sudden death, and the islanders knew that. Instead, Paul calmly shook the snake into the fire and suffered no harm. This fits with God’s promise to protect His messengers so they can finish their work. It also opened a door for the people on Malta to listen to him and see that the God he served was real and powerful, not like their old ideas about fate.

Question 3

Who was Publius in this passage, and why is his role important?

Accepted Answer

Publius is called the chief man of the island, likely a local ruler or main official on Malta. He welcomed Paul and the other survivors and hosted them kindly for three days. When his father lay sick with fever and a bloody flux, Paul went in, prayed, laid hands on him, and he was healed. After this, many other sick people on the island came and were healed too. Publius’ hospitality led to blessing for his own household and opened the way for the whole island to see God’s mercy in action.

Question 4

What does this passage show about God’s providence and care for Paul?

Accepted Answer

All through this passage, we see that God is guiding events, even through hardship. A shipwreck leads to shelter on Malta, where strangers show kindness. A snake bite becomes a sign of God’s power, not of curse. Sickness around Paul turns into occasions for healing. Later, on the way to Rome, Paul finds fellow believers and gains courage as they come out to meet him. In Rome he is still a prisoner, yet allowed to live in a rented house and preach freely. Nothing can stop God from carrying out His purpose.

Question 5

What does Paul mean when he says he is bound "for the hope of Israel"?

Accepted Answer

When Paul says he is bound for the hope of Israel, he is talking about the promised salvation and king that Israel had been waiting for. He is in chains because he preaches that this hope is fulfilled in Jesus. Paul tells the Jewish leaders he has done nothing against their people or customs, but that his message about Jesus as the promised one led to his arrest and appeal to Caesar. So his chains are not for a crime, but for preaching the very hope their own Scriptures pointed to.

Question 6

Why did some who heard Paul in Rome believe his message and others did not?

Accepted Answer

The passage says that some believed the things Paul spoke, and some did not. Paul spent a whole day explaining and testifying about God’s kingdom and trying to persuade them about Jesus from Moses and the prophets. The different responses show that the same message can soften some hearts and be resisted by others. Paul then quoted words given by the Holy Ghost through Isaiah about people hearing but not understanding and closing their eyes. Those who refused were not lacking information; they were hardening themselves against what they heard.

Question 7

What does the quote about hearing and not understanding teach about unbelief?

Accepted Answer

The quote speaks of people who hear but do not understand and see but do not truly perceive. Their heart is described as grown dull, their ears heavy, and their eyes closed. This shows that unbelief is not only about lack of evidence. It can be a willful shutting of the eyes and ears to what God is saying. The words warn that when people keep refusing the light they are given, their hearts become harder. It is a sober reminder not to treat God’s word lightly or ignore it when we hear it.

Question 8

Why does Paul say that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles?

Accepted Answer

After the Jewish leaders in Rome disagree among themselves and some reject his message, Paul tells them that God’s salvation is sent to the Gentiles and that they will hear it. This does not mean Jews are shut out from salvation, but it shows that the good news is not limited to one nation. Since many of his own people resisted the message, Paul turns again to non-Jews, confident that many among them will receive it. God’s plan is wider than one group and reaches out to all who will listen.

Question 9

How can believers today relate to Paul preaching under guard in his own house?

Accepted Answer

Paul lived two whole years in a rented house, chained to a soldier, yet the text says he received all who came to him and preached God’s kingdom and taught about Jesus with confidence, with no one stopping him from speaking. Believers today can see that outward limits do not stop God’s word. Even when our freedom, health, or situation is restricted, God can still use us to point others to Jesus. Paul’s example encourages us to be faithful where we are, trusting God to open doors in ways we might not expect.

Acts 28:1

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

Ashore on Malta

Paul Arrives in Italy

Paul Preaches at Rome

Paul Preaches at Rome

Ashore on Malta

metadata.crossReferences

Acts 28:1

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

share.title

share.allVerses

share.verseWithContext

share.currentVerse

Ashore on Malta

Paul Arrives in Italy

Paul Preaches at Rome

Paul Preaches at Rome

Ashore on Malta

metadata.crossReferences