# Acts Chapter 28 --- ## Summarrium After the shipwreck Paul is brought to Malta and shown kindness by the native peoples. Paul is bitten by a snake and the locals expect him to perish, but seeing no ill effects they believed him to be a God. Paul heals Publius from fever and dysentery and many others come to Paul and they are healed by him. When he decides to set sail the locals given them all they need. Arriving at Rome Paul stays by himself with a single Roman guard. He calls together the local leaders of the Jews and pleads his case before them. Some were convinced whilst others disbelieved. All eventually depart after Paul comments that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles who will listen. Paul remains in Rome two years at his own expense proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus with boldness and without restraint. ## Meditatio Once again this passage contrasts the openness of the Gentiles to the Salvation of God with the closed-mindedness of the religious establishment. Here we see gentiles witness a miracle; Paul bitten by a snake and expected to die. Yet they observe that instead of dying he instead proceeds to health many others. In response they hail him as a god which is an understandable mistake. Many ancient cultures deified human beings that undertook or engaged in incredible feats. This is a common human trait. Whereby the ideal is elevated to a position of transcendent honour. In this case only the gods are able to undertake such feats therefore Paul must be one of the gods. Yet an interesting observation of Pauls engagement with the religious establishment within Acts is that it is always (a) appeals to reason, and (b) typically a legal or religious setting. It's important to recognise that Judaism is a behaviourist religion; concerned with the strict adherence to the law of moses. In any case let's recap the various contexts where Paul challenges the religious establishment. - [Acts 9:20-22](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A20-22&version=ESV) - Paul immediately begins preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God, confounding the Jews living in Damascus. - [Acts 13:5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+13%3A5&version=ESV) - Paul and Barnabas preach the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews in Salamis. - [Acts 13:14-43](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+13%3A14-43&version=ESV) - In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul preaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath, reasoning with both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. - [Acts 14:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+14%3A1&version=ESV) - In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas go to the Jewish synagogue and speak in such a way that a large number of Jews and Greeks believe. - [Acts 17:1-4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A1-4&version=ESV) - In Thessalonica, Paul reasons with the Jews in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. - [Acts 17:10-12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A10-12&version=ESV) - In Berea, Paul and Silas go to the Jewish synagogue, where they find the Jews more noble than those in Thessalonica, and many believe after examining the Scriptures. - [Acts 17:16-17](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A16-17&version=ESV) - In Athens, Paul reasons in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happen to be there. - [Acts 18:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A4&version=ESV) - In Corinth, Paul reasons every Sabbath in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. - [Acts 18:19](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A19&version=ESV) - In Ephesus, Paul goes to the synagogue and reasons with the Jews. - [Acts 19:8](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+19%3A8&version=ESV) - In Ephesus, Paul speaks boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God in the synagogue. - [Acts 22:1-21](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+22%3A1-21&version=ESV) - Paul addresses the crowd in Jerusalem, speaking in Aramaic, recounting his conversion and his mission to the Gentiles, trying to reason with them about his faith. - [Acts 23:1-10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+23%3A1-10&version=ESV) - Paul appears before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, causing a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees by declaring his belief in the resurrection. - [Acts 24:10-21](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+24%3A10-21&version=ESV) - Paul defends himself before Governor Felix, reasoning about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. - [Acts 25:1-12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+25%3A1-12&version=ESV) - Paul defends himself before Festus, appealing to Caesar. - [Acts 26:1-32](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+26%3A1-32&version=ESV) - Paul makes his defense before King Agrippa, recounting his conversion and mission. So reason, dialogue and discourse plays an instrumental role in the ministry of Paul. There is clear concern and need to engage with the gospel of the Kingdom with both the mind as well as the spirit. There is might we can learn from Paul's example in this to engage seriously with the scriptures and the life and mission of Jesus. This is one of the beautiful things about the gospel which I have truely come to admire. It engages us on every level, the Kingdom has arrived, salvation both present and future is a reality for disciples of Jesus. We can be with him, like him and participate in his mission to realise the Kingdom on earth as in heaven.