These small group Bible studies of Acts 28:17-31 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application.  Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

Acts 28:17-31 Bible Study – Paul Ministers In Rome and Acts Continued

Outline

I. Shipwrecked on Malta (1-10)
II. Paul arrives in Rome (11-16)
III. Paul in Rome (17-31)

III. Paul in Rome (17-31)

Discussion Questions

• What is the first thing Paul is recorded doing in Rome?
• What does that show us about his character?
• What does verse 23 show us about Paul’s situation in Rome? How much freedom did he have?
• Why did he quote this passage from Isaiah to them?
• Why did Paul often tell the Jews that God was going to the Gentiles?
• What does the conclusion of the book show us about what he did in Rome?
• How do we see God’s providence in bringing Paul to Rome?
• How did his imprisonment benefit the kingdom?
• What do we learn from this about how God uses
• Why might the book end so abruptly?
• What happened to Paul next?

Cross-References

Philippians 1:12-14 – I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Philippians 4:22 – All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

Colossians 4:3-4 – At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison.

2 Timothy 2:9 – For which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. Paul starts witnessing to the Jews –

Acts 28:17 – After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered.

It didn’t take Paul long to get started in Rome. After only three days, he calls the Jews together to share with them.

Some believed, but many didn’t.

Paul quoted Isaiah 6:9-10. Their hearts were hard and dull. Paul likely mentioned this and that God would go to the Gentiles to wake them up spiritually.

2. Paul continued to faithfully witness for God –

Paul may not have been able to do the kind of ministry he had done before with a lot of traveling and church planting, but he didn’t allow this to discourage or keep him from the work. Where there is a will, there is a way. Paul had the will to do ministry, no matter the circumstances, so he found a way. Though he wasn’t free to go where he may have wanted, Paul could share with the people around him, and he did. Besides that, he wrote letters to the people he couldn’t visit while praying for them often.

Application – Find reasons to share the gospel instead of not to.

Paul could have become focused on himself and his own problems. It would have been natural for him to expect others to care for and pray for him. He could have looked back on his long ministry and rested on his laurels. But he didn’t. Even in prison, he sought ways to reach out. Sickness, disability, persecution, age, gender–none of these are reasons to stop doing the ministry God has called us to. Serving God despite many difficulties and challenges is also a great inspiration to others.

If we have the desire to share the gospel, there is always an opportunity to do so. If you can’t speak, you can write. If you are blind, you can still talk. If you are on a plane, you can share with the person next to you. If you are in the park, you can share with lonely elderly people. If your parents don’t want to see you, you can write. People have numerous excuses for not sharing the good news. Here are a few of them:

• I don’t know enough.
• I am not good enough.
• They will not listen to me.
• I am busy. I will do it later.
• I don’t have many opportunities.
• I am scared/nervous.

Paul had a good “reason,” too, for not sharing the gospel. He was wrongfully imprisoned. But that didn’t stop Paul. We would do well to remember Paul’s statement in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God.”

In Exodus 3, Moses made many of these same excuses. And to every one of them, God replied, “I will be with you.” God will be with you. His Word is powerful. Open your mouth and “tell of his deeds in songs of joy.” (Psalm 107:22)

3. Paul’s imprisonment in Rome resulted in advancing the gospel –

While in Rome, Paul had many opportunities to share the gospel. He started with the Jewish community. In the following two years, he witnessed to many people, including Caesar’s own household (Philippians 4:22) and even the Praetorian Guard (Philippians 1:13). While in Rome, Paul received and shared with people like Onesimus (Philemon). He also had more time and opportunities for writing. Many scholars believe Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon during his first Roman imprisonment.

Reflect – What concrete benefits were there for Paul being imprisoned?

• More time for prayer.
• More time for writing epistles.
• A testimony that others could look to so that they might become bold in their own sharing. We have modern-day examples of this as well. After Jim Elliot and his friends gave their lives to reach the Quechua Indians, it sparked a movement of missionaries around the world. This is one reason we must always be joyful and take advantage of the opportunities we have. Our reactions can influence others as well.
• Opportunities to share with people who would have been particularly hard to share with in normal circumstances, such as his prison mates, guards, and perhaps even Nero (we don’t have any direct evidence of it, but knowing Paul’s personality, it is very likely he shared with Nero during his appeal).
• More time for meditation in his own walk with the Lord.
• More responsibility for his co-workers, e.g., Timothy and Titus.

Application – Remember that the trial you are going through might be ordained by God to give you an open door to share the gospel. Your sickness might be an opportunity to share with another patient. A flight cancellation might put you in a seat next to someone with an open heart.

I know of several believers imprisoned for the gospel in a closed country. While in prison, they had the opportunity to share the gospel with people they never would have met otherwise.

4. Paul was released from his first imprisonment in Rome? –

Many scholars believe that Paul was released from this imprisonment in Rome and continued to travel to share the gospel before eventually being arrested again and then finally martyred.

The overall tone of Acts 28 is quite upbeat. Paul has a lot of freedom and does not appear to be on death row.

Some of the epistles mention locations and churches Paul visited that are never recorded in Acts. That has led many to believe Paul was released for a period of time.

Some of those include Paul leaving Titus in Crete (Titus 1:5) and a trip to Spain (Romans 15:24-28) that are not mentioned in Acts.

Later, Paul writes another letter from Rome to Timothy. This letter appears far more pessimistic about the fate of his trial.

2 Timothy 4:6-7 – For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Paul also mentioned a first defense and the fact that God was with him, indicating he was potentially imprisoned in Rome twice (2 Timothy 4:16-17).

5. The abrupt ending of Acts –

Acts does not tell us the final story of Paul. It does end abruptly, but not without purpose. It is likely Luke wrote this letter to Theophilus after Paul had been in Rome for two years, before his release, subsequent imprisonment, and death.

Luke highlights that the gospel continued to be preached boldly. The open-ended nature of Acts is beautiful.

It might seem like the story is not finished and that is because it isn’t. God’s work still continues today. The gospel is still being spread. While it has advanced across the globe to remote valleys, forest villages, and islands across the world, it is still not finished.

Some researchers conclude that around 28% of the world is still unreached. That number becomes smaller all the time. Churches are being planted across the globe. Leaders are being trained. Disciples are becoming disciple makers. The Bible has been translated, at least in part, into over four thousand languages.

I have seen the spread of the gospel firsthand. In 2025, I visited remote villages in the Amazon rainforest. One of these had only a few hundred residents, but five churches. The name of Jesus was already there when we visited. The job isn’t finished, but it has been advanced further than ever before.

Jesus’ words are being fulfilled right this second.

Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Acts of the Holy Spirit and God’s people continue. Will you take part? Will you join the mission?

Application – What is God leading you to apply from the passage today?

Book Reflection – Spend some time reflecting on what you have learned in this book study. Write down the key lessons and takeaways you want to remember moving forward.