Chapter 28

They learn that they are on Malta.  This is significantly to the west of Crete.  They were driven hundreds of miles by the storm, and are now south of Sicily.

The local people help them build a fire.  Paul puts wood on the fire, and a snake bites him, hanging on to his hand.  The locals decide he must be a murderer to escape the sea and then get snake bit.  Paul shakes the snake off and has no ill effects for a long time.  So they decide that instead of a murderer, he must be a god. 

Paul heals the father of the island's main landowner, Publius.  When the rest of the island hears of it, they bring all the sick to Paul and he heals them all.  He heals the whole island!  They re-provision a ship for them, so they can continue their journey.  Wouldn't Julius have reported this upon delivering Paul to Rome?  Again, even great signs and wonders are not enough to sway unbelievers.

They set sail from Malta three months later, on a different ship that had wintered there in Malta.  After storm season I imagine. 

They make several more stops and are met at "Three Taverns" by some "brothers" from Rome.  Once they get to Rome proper, Paul is allowed to stay with the soldier guarding him.  Seems this didn't even qualify for house arrest.  He was trusted, and allowed to go about his own business in Rome.  How did things go from here to martyrdom??? 

Paul speaks first to the Jewish leaders in Rome - not the church leaders.  He tells them he has appealed to Caesar to avoid being killed by the Jews.  They say they've received no ill reports about him firsthand or by mail.  But they want to know about this "sect" that is everywhere spoken against.  Obviously, this question would be from Roman Jews, not the church at Rome. 

On an appointed day, Paul spends all day showing them Jesus in the Law and the Prophets.  Some believe, but some do not.  I get the feeling the majority do not.  Paul ends with a quote from Isaiah saying that they will hear but not understand, see but not perceive.  Seems he's kind of rough on them, sending them off on a sour note, rather than wanting to know more.  Is this a lesson for us, when we've tried and failed to lead someone to Christ?  Or is this because they were Jews, and Isaiah foretold that the Jews would be this way as part of God's wrath toward them for breaking the covenant.  Paul tells them that he will go to the Gentiles instead, because at least they will listen.  This is not the first time that Paul has been so frustrated with the local Jews in a place that he just stopped trying with them and turned his full attention to the Gentiles there.

This is likely what turned things against Paul.  The Jews turned against him, the Jews saw the numbers converting, saw Christianity as a rival religion not as the truth revealed.  They would certainly have had much influence in Rome, as they always do everywhere in high places.  They likely turned the government against Paul, likely communicated with the Jews in Jerusalem and so on.  This is what happened, I would bet.

He lived there two more years, in his own hired dwelling, talking with anyone who came to see him.  These verses end the book:

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. [Act 28:30-31 ESV]

No winding down, no stories of conversions, nothing about getting acquainted with some in Caesar's household.  Acts just stops.