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.
2 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...
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.
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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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. 9 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 Puteoli, 14 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 disbelieved. 25 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. 7 I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. 8 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
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