What was the island they landed on?
How did the natives show kindness to the shipwrecked passengers?
Why did the viper bite Paul?
What did the natives think of this?
What happened to the viper? What happened to Paul?
What did the people expect? When this didn’t happen, what did they now decide Paul was?
Who was the leading citizen of the island? How long did he lodge the apostles?
Who was ill? What did Paul do?
Then, who also came to Paul for healing?
How long did they stay there before they boarded another boat?
Where did they land and stay three days?
What other stops did they make on the way to Rome?
What gave Paul thankfulness and courage?
Where was Paul allowed to live? Who was with him?
Summarize Paul’s testimony to the Jewish leaders in verses 17-20. Why was he bound with this chain?
What kind of reports had the Roman Jews heard from Judea regarding Paul?
Why were they interested in hearing what Paul had to say?
On the day chosen, where did they Jews meet with Paul? What did he share with them? For how long?
What was the response from Paul’s Jewish audience there?
What did Paul say that made them leave? Which prophet did he quote?
Where did Paul live? For how long?
What was Paul allowed to do during that time?

Thought Questions

What do you immediately think of when you hear of miraculous events? Are they the best evidences of God? How can people misinterpret them according to their own preconceived ideas?
Why do you think there is no record that Paul preached the gospel of Christ to the Maltese, even while performing His miracles among them?
What lengths would you go to to welcome a visitor from your church, particularly one in a difficult situation like Paul’s? What kind of difference could that make to them?
What was the “hope of Israel” for which Paul was bound with a chain? Could you ever be bound with a chain for the same hope? Would you be willing?
Why do so many people hear the word of God and receive it differently-some accepting it as truth which will save them, and others rejecting it, even to the point of persecuting those who preach it?

My prayer is:
That to every type of people and in every type of situation, I would show the glory of God wherever I go through word and action;
That I would be willing, if ever necessary, to be bound in chains for the “hope of Israel;”
And that I would receive the eternal word of the truth of God with faith, believing, accepting, and always willing to follow.