*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.
Acts 28:1-14 teaches us that God takes care of us and can use any situation for good. After surviving a shipwreck, Paul was bitten by a snake but was unharmed, showing God’s protection. He then helped heal many sick people, turning a difficult situation into an opportunity to bless others. This reminds us that even in tough times, God is with us and can use us to help those around us. We can apply this by trusting God in hardships, being ready to serve others, and believing that He can bring good out of any situation.
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.