Paul’s Faith Validates God’s Work

Topic: Faith
Passage: Acts 28:1–16

April 12, 2021

Commentary

The island of Malta is located 60 miles south of Sicily. The ship was lost but all 276 of the men were saved by the hand of God. The inhabitants of the island showed great kindness to the shipwrecked men (vv. 1-2). As Paul was throwing wood on the fire a poisonous snake fastened itself onto his hand (v. 3). When the islanders saw what had happened, they were horrified (v. 4). They thought Paul must be a criminal, and that this was a judgment brought upon him. They fully expected he would become ill or even die. When he shook the snake off and no ill came to him, they changed their minds and thought that he must be a god (vv. 5-6). They went from one extreme to another. The Lord had made a promise, and He wasn’t going to let anything stop His servant. Publius owned an estate nearby and offered hospitality to the castaways (v. 7). Paul was able to heal Publius’s father through prayer and the laying on of hands (v. 8). As news of the healing spread throughout the island, others flocked in to see Paul and to be healed (v. 9). It is good to remember that Paul could exercise the gift of healing; yet he himself continued to bear his own thorn in the flesh. Paul was simply manifesting the gift of healing as it had been given to the early church to validate its message. The islanders showered Paul and his friends with honors, and when it came time for them to leave, they loaded them down with provisions for the voyage (v. 10). 
They spent three months on Malta (v. 11). Eventually, another ship gave them passage to Syracuse in Sicily (100 miles), then to Rhegium, on the toe of Italy (70 miles), and finally to Puteoli, in the bay of Naples (180 miles) (vv. 12-13). The local Christians were allowed to host Paul during the seven-day layover (v. 14). Paul had earned Julius’s full confidence by this point. The Christians in Rome sent a welcome party to Appii Forem (43 miles from Rome) to meet Paul (v. 15). A Second group met him at Three Taverns (33 miles from Rome). Finally, Paul arrived in Rome and was assigned soldiers to watch over him (v. 16). This was a turning point in Paul’s ministry. God had sent Paul to Rome to be a witness. Even the soldiers who were guarding him were coming to Christ. Seven of his epistles were written while he was here in prison. 

Application

If I had been the centurion and had watched all that had happened at sea and on the island, how would I have felt about Paul and the Christian faith? James said, “Faith without works is dead.” Lord, help me to be a person whose works give proof of my faith.

Acts 28:1– 16 (NET)

1 After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!” 5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7 Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 8 The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. 10 They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed.

11 After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” as its figurehead. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we cast off 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 some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome. 15 The brothers from there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Illustration: Invisible Incredible Impossible Seen by Faith

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. (Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).

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