Paul’s Faith Validates God’s Work

Acts 28:1–16
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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.