Safe on Shore — Kindness, Miracles, and a Long Journey (Acts 28:1–14)
After surviving a terrifying storm and shipwreck, Paul and everyone with him made it safely to land. That’s where this next part of the story begins. In Acts 28:1–14, we see how God continues to care for Paul and use him—even in unexpected places.
Let’s dive into what happened next.
Welcome to the Island of Malta
Paul and the rest of the shipwreck survivors found out they had landed on the island of Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean Sea.
The people of Malta were very kind. Even though it was rainy and cold, the locals built a fire and welcomed everyone. Their hospitality warmed both body and heart after such a frightening experience.
Bitten by a Snake
As Paul helped gather firewood, something surprising happened. While placing sticks on the fire, a poisonous snake came out of the heat and bit his hand!
The islanders were shocked. They thought Paul must be a bad man—maybe even a criminal—because he survived a shipwreck only to be bitten by a deadly snake. They expected him to swell up and die.
But something amazing happened: Paul shook the snake off into the fire—and nothing happened to him. He didn’t get sick at all!
The people were amazed. When Paul didn’t die, they changed their minds and thought he must be a god. (They didn’t yet understand that it was God’s power working through Paul.)
Healing on the Island
The governor of the island, Publius, welcomed Paul and some others into his home and took care of them for three days. While there, Paul found out that Publius’s father was very sick with fever and dysentery.
Paul went to see him, prayed, laid his hands on him, and God healed him.
When word got out, many other sick people on the island came to Paul—and they were healed too! God used Paul’s time on Malta to show His power and love to people who had never heard of Him before.
A Grateful Goodbye
The people of Malta were so thankful for everything Paul had done. When it was time to leave, they gave Paul and the others everything they needed for the next part of the journey.
After three months on Malta, they boarded another ship and sailed toward Rome. Along the way, they stopped at a few ports, including Syracuse and Rhegium, and finally arrived at a place called Puteoli, where they stayed with believers.
What We Can Learn from Acts 28:1–14
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God can use you wherever you are
Paul didn’t plan to go to Malta. He ended up there because of a storm. But God used him in that place to show kindness, perform miracles, and share hope. -
God protects and provides
Paul was bitten by a deadly snake and survived. He continued healing others, and God made sure he had everything he needed to keep going. Even in the middle of trials, God never left him. -
Unexpected delays can have a purpose
Paul’s journey to Rome was delayed by months. But during that time, many people were helped and healed. Sometimes, God works through interruptions to do something even better. -
Kindness matters
The people of Malta didn’t know who Paul was, but they still showed kindness. Their open hearts allowed them to experience God’s love through Paul.
Final Thought:
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Storms come, plans change, and we may find ourselves in places we never expected. But just like Paul, we can trust that God is with us, using even the hard times for something good.
Whether you’re shipwrecked in your plans or just feeling stuck, remember: God can use you right where you are.
Acts 28:1-14 (WEB)
28:1 When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire and received us all, because of the present rain and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” 5 However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. 6 But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days. 8 The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9 Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured. 10 They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.11 After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.” 12 Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome.