What does Acts 28:10 mean?

Paul is the prisoner of Julius, a centurion, headed to Rome. After being falsely accused by the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem and wrongfully imprisoned by two different Roman governors in Caesarea Maritima, he appealed his case to Caesar. Aristarchus is apparently also a prisoner (Colossians 4:10), and Luke is with them.

The three Christ-followers, Julius and his cohort, and the passengers and sailors of an Alexandrian ship have barely survived a two-week-long tempest on the Mediterranean and a violent shipwreck. The ship's owner would not listen to Paul and remain moored off the island of Crete. To add insult to injury, Paul had to alert Julius to prevent the sailors from escaping, force everyone to eat so they'd have the energy to make it to shore, and watch while Julius's soldiers threatened to kill the prisoners (Acts 27).

Once the survivors landed on the beach on the island of Malta, Paul found a different reception. After Paul survived an encounter with a snake, the locals thought he was a god (Acts 28:1–6). The chief man invited Paul and others to his home where Paul healed the chief's father. When the islanders heard, they brought all their sick to Paul for healing (Acts 28:7–9). In appreciation, the locals provide the castaways with everything they need.

Paul and the others spend the winter on Malta before boarding another Alexandrian ship and landing on the mainland. As they walk the rest of the way to Rome, they meet local Christ-followers who provide support and encouragement. Paul will spend two years under house arrest. He will finally get the chance to speak with the Jews in the city about how Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the Mosaic law and the Old Testament prophecies. As in every place he preaches, some will listen to him and others will dismiss his message. But he will have a fruitful season, entertaining many and spreading Jesus' offer of reconciliation with God even to the servants of Caesar's household (Acts 28:11–31; Philippians 4:22).