Acts 28:1

The shipwrecked passengers and crew were all saved alive, fulfilling Paul's prophecy made at a moment when all hope had perished. The population of Malta aided in the rescue, building a fire and "receiving" them kindly. Paul was snakebitten (Acts 28:1-6).

Hospitality was extended to the victims of shipwreck by the first man of the island; and Paul wrought many cures of the sick and suffering of Malta (Acts 28:7-10).

The voyage to Rome was continued after three months, ending very shortly at Puteoli, terminal port of the grain ship; and, thence by land, Paul soon arrived in Rome, being greeted by brethren on the way (Acts 28:11-16).

As always, Paul sought and obtained first an interview with Jewish leaders who set a day to hear him a week later (Acts 28:17-22).

The Jews of Rome, as invariably throughout Paul's ministry, rejected Christ, despite the fact that some believed (Acts 28:23-28).

The Book of Acts is concluded by a brief summary of the two whole years of Paul's imprisonment; and the curtain rings down with Paul still in prison, because, when Luke wrote, the apostle's release, although pending, had not yet occurred (Acts 28:30-31).

And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarians showed us no common kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. (Acts 28:1-2)

Melita ... This island is the one now known as Malta. Mention of the "Sea of Adria" in Acts 27:27 led some to suppose that Meleda, an island off the Dalmatian coast in the Adriatic sea, was meant; but there is abundant proof that the whole Mediterranean was called "Adria" by the sailors. "There is no reasonable doubt that Malta is the island in question."[1]

The barbarians ... Such a designation of the people meant merely that they did not speak Greek. "They spoke a language derived from Phoenician, and were little affected by the Greek-Roman culture."[2] Their conduct at once proved them not to be barbarians in the usual sense of the word.

This island of Malta Isaiah 12 miles wide, 20 miles long, and 60 miles distant from Sicily. "It yields an abundance of honey, whence its name."[3]

Rain and cold ... Such storms as they had encountered always dump large quantities of water; and late in the autumn the weather was very disagreeable. The survivors needed and received help.

[1] G. H. C. MacGreggor, The Interpreter's Bible (New York: Abingdon Press, 1954), Vol. IX, p. 341.

[2] Everett F. Harrison, Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 337.

[3] John Wesley, Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House), in loco.