1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come 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 entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
11 After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Having survived the shipwreck, they learned that they had landed on the island of Malta, south of Sicily. The island had good harbours and was ideally located for trade. The native people (the Greek word was used of people that were not Greek-oriented in culture) showed them unusual hospitality and welcomed them by kindling a fire because it was cold and had begun to rain. Paul helped gather some sticks for the fire. Because of the heat, a snake came out of the sticks and held fast to Paul’s hand. The local people figured Paul to be a murderer. They had no doubt realised that many of the survivors were prisoners and having survived the sea, justice was ensuring he received a just fate through the snake. Nonchalantly, Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm. The islanders waited for him to swell up or fall down dead and when neither happened, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. While Luke doesn’t record it, Paul no doubt dealt with their misguided view in a similar way to how he responded at Lystra (Acts 14:8-18).
In that area, the chief of the island, named Publius, received them and hosted them for three days. By God’s providence, his father lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul prayed for him, laid hands on him, and healed him. Hearing of this, the rest of the people on the island who were sick came and were cured. Paul, who had not been harmed by the snake, was the one who healed others. In response, they showed them much honour by supplying their needs when they finally set sail for Rome.
After staying on Malta for three months, they set sail on a ship that had spent the winter in the port. This was a ship of Alexandria which had the twin gods of Castor and Pollux on the figurehead. These were the heavenly twins of Zeus and Leda which, according to Greek mythology, provided good fortune to mariners. We see the contrast between the superstition of the Greeks, Romans, and the people of Malta against Christianity. Luke then describes their voyage up to Rome. Along the way, they stopped at Puteoli (today Pozzuoli) where they had to remain for seven days and were welcomed by the believers there. When they arrived in Rome, believers from up to 70 kilometers away traveled to meet them. Paul thanked God for the encouragement he received from the church. When they arrived in Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself (in a rented house, Acts 28:30) along with the soldier who guarded him.
Throughout the book of Acts, and in his letters, we see that Paul was greatly encouraged by his fellow believers within the church. Do you find encouragement through fellowship within the church? Are you an encouragement to your fellow believers in the church? (1 Thess 5:11)
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Controlling the Tongue: James 3-4