God's Goodness to an Isolated Island People - Acts 28:1-10

    Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

 

    There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

 

The island on which the ship wrecked was called Malta. Luke notes that the islanders demonstrated “unusual kindness,” and God did some amazing things among the Maltans through Paul. He protected Paul from a viper’s bite, so that Paul did not die. And then He allowed Paul to heal their host’s father.

 

Although these people initially responded to the power they saw demonstrated through Paul by deciding that Paul was a god, we know enough about Paul’s ministry to be certain that he would not have allowed them to keep thinking that. As the rest of the island’s sick people came to Paul to be cured, we can be sure that Paul was sharing with them the good news about their Healer, Jesus Christ.

 

The Maltans honored the shipwrecked survivors in many ways, it says. We can be almost certain that a church was established there on Malta during the three months (Acts 28:11) Paul was there. These generous and hospitable people furnished the supplies needed when it was time for the castaways to sail again.

 

Father, thank You for repaying this people’s generosity with generosity of Your own. Thank You for healing so many, for establishing Paul’s credibility with them, and for sending them someone like Paul. Even though You sent Paul through a storm, You made sure that these people had the opportunity to encounter Your messengers. Help us to trust that You really are in control, that You really are seeking and saving the lost, and that You really are good.