Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Smooth Sailing After the Storm, Acts 28

 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.

After two weeks tossed at sea they finally ran aground and escaped to the shores of of Malta. You can go there today and see where they landed, at St. Paul’s Bay on the north side of Malta.

The island is twenty miles long, and twelve wide. It’s between Sicily and Africa, furthest from the continent of any island in the Mediterranean; about sixty miles south of Sicily.

It became famous for the knights of Malta, who stood against the Turkish rampage against Christendom.

Malta means honey, or sweetness, fitting since the island is long known for beekeeping, and even to this day, the folks of Malta are known for their hospitality.

Another claim to fame is noted right here in the U.S. The American Kennel Club states that the Maltese breed of dog originated on the island of Malta. 


 
  
Notice, only after they escaped the storm did they find out where they were.

But God knew all the while. He knows, dear child of God, where you’re at, in your storm. Even when you don’t. He knows and is right there with you walking on the water, like Peter, or in the belly of the fish like Jonah, or the lion’s den, like Daniel, or the fiery furnace like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

No matter the storm, there is a place of quiet rest just for you.

Where?

In His will, in His Presence, is the safest, most peaceful, most joyful place to be—no matter the storm. Psalm 91:1-2, Phil. 4:7, Psalm 16:11.

In all probability, they never would’ve come to this island, had it not been for the storm, yet we’re about to see God has work for them to do here.

 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

It was somewhere around November. They were soaked to the skin and cold to the bone.

So, the sweet folks of Malta have the survivors huddled around a fire, perhaps, sipping hot Malta tea with honey, petting cute, cuddly, little Maltese puppies.

An example for us to remember those around us exposed to the elements. Have pity on them, pray for them, and show them unusual kindness.

We mustn’t just say, “be ye warmed and filled” but must give those things that are needful. James 2:16.

Picture the shipwrecked, weathered, worn, weary, wrecked...  but smiling at the kindness of the islanders.

If this were a movie, this would be the perfect ending.

Rome drops all charges against Paul. He retires to Malta, becomes a beekeeper, has a Maltese pup named Grace, and lives happily ever after.

But the Bible isn’t a movie or a fairytale. Although it does end with a, happily ever after.

Just not yet.

Not until the villain, that ol’ serpent, and all those with him, are rounded up and thrown into the lake of fire.

Speaking of which...

 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. 

We should never think ourselves above any task that needs doing.

Paul was wet and cold and tired, nevertheless, he pitched in.

Whoever enjoys the warmth of a fire should lend to the fueling of it.

But serpents and evil have no conscience, show no mercy.

The battle that rages.

Thus, we must be wary, vigilant, taking no time to be lazy or complacent.

We should be busy gathering branches (John 15:5), not for the fires of hell, but to be planted and fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”

In the beginning God created man in His own image, male and female created He them. With God as our Creator, we all have built into their spiritual DNA a God compass, a sense of right and wrong and a desire for justice.

The Lord calls it the law of sowing and reaping.

The world calls it karma.

But they don’t see the big picture, so they make a snap judgement by only seeing a snapshot, of the circumstances.

This man must be a murderer. He escaped the sea, but Divine Justice will not allow him to live.

We must not  judge the content of one’s character by the color of their circumstance.

God specializes in taking what the enemy meant for harm and turning it around for good. He will use this snakebite to spark their faith and help many in Malta both physically and spiritually.

If you let Him, He will take your shipwreck, your snakebite, your imprisonment, your tragedy, and use it for good.

 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 

It is reported even to this day that after this no venomous snake ever lived on the island of Malta.

Pause and look at Paul standing there in front of the fire. A small man, bow legged, his baldhead still wet and shiny. Not too impressive on the outside, but what you’ve just witnessed is the actions of a seasoned spiritual warrior.

It’s as if Paul expected the strike from the serpent.

After so long in the battle you come to know the wiles of the enemy.

After a major victory, when you’re spent and ready to rest, after escaping the sea, after Jesus fasted 40 days and nights, when you’re weak, that’s when the serpent strikes.

Paul saw the viper hanging from his hand, and with no panic or shriek or fear, he calmly took the time to send the serpent to its demise where it would never harm anyone ever again.

A foreshadow of where the serpent of serpent’s will one day be sent.

Paul had already penned the following words:

2 Cor. 11:24-27, From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness...

After all of that, plus this newest shipwreck, he learned through faith and patience to shake off trial and temptation and say, “Get thee behind me satan, the Lord rebuke you!”

Dear saint, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you (1 Peter 4:12). Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (James 1:2).

Expect tests. Face them. Take them. They produce the spiritual muscle of faith and patience that you need to shake off the sin which so easily besets you, shake off the temptations that trip you, shake off the serpent that wants to kill, steal and destroy you.

Look at Paul standing there in front of the fire. The small man, bow legged, baldhead, shipwrecked, worn, weathered, weary, snakebit...

But still standing... perhaps smiling, petting a Maltese pup.

However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

They vilified him, then they magnified him. Don’t give popular opinion a second thought, it turns with the wind, to one extreme, then the other.

You must stay the course dear saint, not only for yourself, but also for others.

They’re watching to see if you fall.

Stay the course. Leave the results to God.

In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days.

Since he’s not a murderer, but a god, let’s have him and his friends over for dinner.

 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.  10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

To this day there’s something in that area called Malta Fever from a microbe in goats’ milk, with symptoms of fever and a bloody diarrhea.

The Lord blessed the islanders with healings, and we can be sure that Jesus was preached to them and many believed, as evidenced by how they blessed and honored and provided for Paul and the crew.

11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.

They wintered at the island then boarded a ship with the twin sons of zeus from Greek mythology, mounted on the bow as a figurehead.

 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.

They sailed about 85 miles to Syracuse, then another 85 to Rhegium and then, around 200 miles to Puteoli.

Paul was given a lot of freedom.

 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

Some Christians traveled 40 miles from Rome to meet Paul at Appii Forum, others traveled 30 to Three Inns.

Wow! Talk about a welcoming committee. They didn’t just meet him at the door, or the edge of the city, they took a day or two journey to meet him.

That love, that commitment, had to impress everybody in that traveling party.

Jesus says it like this: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35.

Does our community see His love, by our love toward each other?

16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

He was under house arrest.

17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together.

These are Jews that are not Christians.

 So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

The hope of Israel is the Messiah. They all agreed on that.

The Messiah is Jesus—they did not all agree on that.

21 Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

So, the Jerusalem Jews evidently didn’t think it was worth pursuing the issue against Paul any longer since he was long gone.

Which makes sense, since they knew they didn’t have a case against him anyway.

23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 

The whole Bible, points to Jesus. All the Law of Moses and the Prophets, the Scripture they read, and said they believed, it all points to Jesus.

Paul laid it all out for them.

24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying,

‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’

Isaiah 6:9-10, and Jesus referred to it in Matthew 13:15.

28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 

29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

 

The end of the book of Acts.

But just the beginning of the Acts of the Holy Spirit through His Ekklésia... that’s you, if you are in Christ.

But what happened to Paul?

There’s no Biblical record, which is appropriate because it’s not about Paul, it’s about Jesus, and the Acts of His Holy Spirit.

However, for the inquiring minds who want to know. Tradition says during Paul’s house arrest (somewhere around 60-62 AD) he wrote Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. In that order.

Then, he was released and went on a fourth missionary journey, perhaps to Spain, where he said he’d like to go. Romans 15:24, 28.

It’s believed around 64 AD Paul was arrested again when Emperor Nero raged against Christians.

Paul was put in prison—not house arrest.

Church historian Eusebius, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs records that Paul was led by Nero’s soldiers “out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers made, gave his neck to the sword” (chapter 1, section X).

When Paul knew his departure was at hand, he penned his final letter to his protégé Timothy: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6–8).

One last time picture Paul, the small, bowlegged, baldhead, shipwrecked, worn, weathered, weary, snakebit, prisoner—no more.

Now, he’s standing, tall and strong and smiling... wearing a crown of righteousness.

The mighty Emperor Nero, he’s hardly spoken of.

However, Jesus, through the writings of Paul, is still changing the world.

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing that we are indeed in a battle, help us to stay the course, fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith, shake off sin, and show unusual kindness, so all will know we are Your disciples by Your love shining through us. Keep us busy gathering in Your Presence, the safest, most peaceful, joyful, place to be, now and always. We love and long for your appearing.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

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