*Acts 28:1-14
Shipwrecked on Malta after a storm, Paul experiences hospitality from the islanders and heals their sick through his faith.
- Arrival on Malta:
- After the shipwreck, Paul and the others find themselves on Malta, where they learn the island’s name from the natives, who show remarkable kindness by building a fire and welcoming them due to the rain and cold.
- Paul’s Encounter with a Viper:
- As Paul gathers a pile of brushwood and puts it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastens itself on his hand.
- The islanders see the snake hanging from his hand and say to each other, “This man must be a murderer; though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
- Paul shakes the snake off into the fire and suffers no ill effects. The people wait for him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but when nothing happens, they change their minds and say he is a god.
- Healing of Publius’s Father:
- The chief official of the island, named Publius, welcomes Paul and his companions and hospitably cares for them for three days.
- Publius’s father is sick with fever and dysentery. Paul visits him, prays, places his hands on him, and heals him.
- Other Healings on Malta:
- After this healing, other islanders who have diseases come to Paul and are also cured.
- The people of Malta honor Paul and his companions greatly, and when it is time to sail again, they provide them with the supplies they need.
- Departure from Malta:
- After three months on Malta, they set sail on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered on the island, which had the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.
- They first sail to Syracuse and stay there for three days.
- Further Journey to Rome:
- From Syracuse, they travel to Rhegium, and after one day, a south wind springs up, taking them on the second day to Puteoli in Italy.
- In Puteoli, they find believers who invite Paul and his companions to stay with them for a week.
- Final Approach to Rome:
- The news of their arrival spreads, and believers from Rome come to meet them at the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns.
- Paul is encouraged by seeing the believers and thanks God.
28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
28:2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
28:7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
28:9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: 28:10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
28:11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
28:12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
28:13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: 28:14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.