Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
3. Wintering at Malta (Acts 28:1-10)
ACTS 28:1-6
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 one to 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.
The devil has never loved God and his children. He wants to destroy them and stop their faith. But Christ’s providential care keeps us night and day, as Paul the apostle wrote: “The love of Christ compels us.”
The poor and downcast seafarers were quick to experience God’s kindness when they came ashore. The natives of the island, which was then under the authority of the Carthaginians, did not rob or kill them, but welcomed them kindly. They gathered up a big bundle of wood in the stormy rain and violent wind and put it on the fire, for them to warm themselves. Paul himself bent down to gather some sticks for the fire. But the devil, angry over the apostle’s salvation and rescue from the high sea, sent a poisonous snake, which crawled out of the flames and fastened itself onto Paul´s wrist, sinking its sharp fangs into his hand. Paul shook the snake off into the fire to burn, as a sign of the devils’ origin.
The natives of the island, seeing the snake hanging from Paul’s hand, spoke one to another: “The wrath of God has caught up with him, for although he escaped death in the sea, justice and the condemnation of his sin will not allow him to live.” They expected to see Paul begin wreathing in intense pain because of the poison infiltrating his body, and waited for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But the apostle of the Gentiles remained steadfast. He trusted in the promise of Christ, who said that his messengers would trample on serpents and scorpions, and nothing would by any means hurt them, for the power of Christ was at work in them.
When it became apparent that nothing was going to happen to Paul, the natives became fearful, and began whispering to one another that he was a god. “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” In fact, every Christian believer is a child of God. The Christian is not one among a pantheon of independent gods, absurd as the imagination of the Greeks and the Romans, but is filled with the Holy Spirit, and joined to Christ. God the Father speaks through him, and grants him everlasting life. The devil knew exactly why he wanted to destroy Paul. Paul was the ringleader in the evangelization of the whole world. He wanted to subjugate the capital of the world to Christ, and make it a starting point to evangelize the rest of the world. All the hosts of hell were enlisted to fight against this missions advancement to Rome: the High Council of the Jews, the haughty governors, the evil spirits, the deadly tempest, the rough sea, and the poisonous snake. Christ, however, remains the Victor. No one can stand in the way of his triumphal procession.
ACTS 28:7-10
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 It happened that 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.
Publius, the chief of the island, invited the officer and his soldiers and prisoners to stay at his house. He showed them gracious hospitality. Then Publius’ father fell ill with a contagious disease, and was about to die. Yet Paul, ready to show appreciation and return kindness to Publius, went in to his father’s house and healed him in the name of Christ Jesus. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. When it is the will of Christ, believers can heal diseases by placing their hands on and praying over the sick. The power of God flowed out of the apostle to the sick man, and he was healed at once.
This miracle was wonderful to the natives of the island. The news quickly spread from house to house, and the people rejoiced, supposing that the good gods had come down to them. They brought all the sick to Paul, Luke the physician, and Aristarchus, who prayed together and healed them all in the name of Christ. For these services the three men experienced many honors. They left the island supplied with everything they needed for the remaining journey. No doubt Paul also preached on this island in the barbarian language, as much as he could, and as much as he was allowed. Christian healings do not come about as a result of magic or communication with the occult. They are clear signs, which bear witness to Jesus Christ and his rightful power.
QUESTION:
- What does the snake, which bit Paul, signify? What do you understand from the healings on the island of Malta?