Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 28:31

"preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him." — Acts 28:31 (ASV)

No man forbidding him.—This fact is interesting as it shows the attitude of the Roman Empire toward the new faith. So far, even under Nero, it was tolerant. Even though the “sect” of the Christians was “everywhere spoken against,” a leading teacher of that sect was allowed ample freedom to spread his views.

The rulers of the Roman Empire were not yet alarmed at the thought of the widespread secret organization of the Christian Society, and the influence of Seneca and Burrus may not have been without its share in this policy of toleration.

The history closes somewhat abruptly. It may have been the writer's intention to continue his narrative. It is a natural inference that when he closed it, the two years had expired or were about to expire; that he, who had remained with the Apostle during his imprisonment, started with him on his eastward journey afterwards; and that some incidents, to us unknown, hindered him from completing the work he had begun.

It is possible, on the other hand, that Theophilus, as an Italian convert (see Introduction), may have known what had happened in Rome during the Apostle’s first sojourn there, or subsequently. In that case, St. Luke may not have aimed for more than presenting to his friend the stages by which St. Paul had been brought to the Imperial City.