November 18, 2012
Lesson: Acts 28:1-10;
Golden Text: “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him” (Acts 28:8).
INTRODUCTION. At sometime or other we all have wondered what God is doing in our lives, especially when we find ourselves in some strange and unknown circumstance.We often ask ourselves questions like“What am I doing here?”or“Why is this happening to me now?”We search for answers from God.In this week’s lesson Paul and his companions found themselves shipwrecked on an unknown island which they later found out was Melita or Malta.On this island where they were shipwrecked, Paul continued to serve others through faith.
II. HOSPITALITY EXTENDED (Acts 28:1-2). As last week’s lesson ended, Paul and a group of other prisoners were on their way to Rome. During a great storm, the ship was destroyed but everyone on board made it safely to shore. This week’s lesson takes up at that point.
A. The location (Acts 28:1). As already noted, the Apostle Paul was a prisoner on his way to Rome to appeal his defense to the Roman emperor when their ship was destroyed by a storm and hit ground. This verse then says “And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.” The word “escaped” here means that all those aboard the ship made it safely to shore. Once they all made it to shore, Luke tells us that “then they knew that the island was called Melita.” Even though the sailors had probably landed on this island’s main port of Valetta many times, they didn’t recognize the place where their ship ran aground.It was only after they all got ashore that they learned the name of the island was Melita or Malta as it is known today.The island’s name means “refuge.”
B.The reception on the island of Malta (Acts 28:2). This verse says “And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.” Luke describes the residents on the island as “barbarous people.” This can also be translated as “barbarians” as it is in verse 4. However, the term does not mean a savage people. It was used by both Greeks and Romans to describe any people who were neither Greek nor Roman and spoke a dialect unknown to them. The phrase “shewed us no little kindness” was Luke’s way of saying that the island residents showed them extraordinary kindness. Their kindness included building a fire and welcoming all of the 276 castaways. The fire was certainly appreciated by the castaways “because of the present rain, and because of the cold.” Apparently the storm had ceased but it was still raining and cold since it was close to winter (see Acts 27:9-12). Even though these islanders were pagans, they showed a human kindness that even Christians sometimes lack.
III. A MIRACLE OBSERVED (Acts 28:3-6)
A. Paul’s snakebite (Acts 28:3). Then this verse says “Andthem on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.” As Paul was continuing to make himself useful, he gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper was driven out of the bundle by the heat from the fire. The snake “fastened on his hand” indicating that it just didn’t bite Paul, it held on to his hand. The viper was a poisonous snake and the islanders knew this.Note: God had something special in mind for Paul.Nothing happens to the Christian believer without God’s planning something wonderful, even through the most difficult circumstances. Paul would soon learn that there was a ministry opportunity awaiting him.
B. The islanders’ interpretation of Paul’s snakebite (Acts 28:4). Luke then says “And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.” These islanders, here called “barbarians” were pagans and superstitious so when they saw the snake hanging from Paul’s hand they concluded two things. First, they concluded that “No doubt this man is a murderer.” Being bitten by the snake convinced them that Paul had to be an evil person, even a murderer. Second, they concluded that “though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.” The islanders said that even though Paul escaped from the sea and the shipwreck, he would not escape from the snakebite because “vengeance” or justice would catch up with him and not let him live. As superstitious pagans who had no sense of the one true God, they believed that when bad things happened it was a sign of disfavor by the gods; and when good things happened it was a sign of the gods’ favor.
C. The islanders’ change of opinion (Acts 28:5-6).
1. (vs. 5). Something amazing happens next. This verse says “And he (Paul) shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.” Paul shook the snake off his hand into the fire and showed no signs of being harmed by it. For Paul, surviving this incident was due to divine protection, just as he and his companions were protected during the storm. Note: God honors the faith of His people by faithfully delivering them from their trials or giving them strength in the midst of their hardships. God had displayed His power and reassured Paul by preserving him during the storm, and again He was reassuring Paul that He would bring him safely to Rome. God was demonstrating His power to both the islanders and the castaways in order to create saving faith in them.
2. (vs. 6). Luke now writes “ Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.” The islanders watched Paul intently expecting the snake bite to either cause swelling and/or death very quickly. After watching for a long period of time, we are not told how long, they saw that nothing happened to Paul. This caused them to re-think their earlier conclusions and change their minds about Paul. Now the islanders no longer viewed him as a murderer (see vs. 4) but they “said that he was a god.” Again, being pagans and superstitious, whenever the islanders saw events such as this, they concluded that deity was present.
MIRACLES PERFORMED (Acts 28:7-10)
A. The healing of Publius’ father (Acts 28:7-8).
1. (vs. 7). This verse introduces us to a new ministry opportunity for Paul. It says “In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.” In the same area where all this was happening the “chief man of the island, whose name was Publius” had some “possessions” or property. The name “Publius” is Latin indicating that he was a Roman. He was probably the Roman governor of Malta. Luke said that this leader of the island “received us, and lodged us three days courteously.” The words “received us” means that Publius welcomed Paul and his companions, who included Luke, the soldiers, the sailors and other prisoners, and provided them with food and hospitality for three days. Note: The stay with Publius lasted only three days until they all could be lodged at other places, because they would remain on the island for three months (see Acts 28:11).
2. (vs. 8). Luke then writes “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.” While they were staying with Publius, they learned that his father was “sick of a fever and of a bloody flux.” The term “bloody flux” refers to dysentery. This was an intestinal sickness accompanied by heavy fever. It may have been what has been called “Malta fever” which is even now common on the island. It has been traced to a microbe in goat’s milk. We are told that “Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.” Earlier the islanders called Paul a god, but his praying made it clear that he depended on a deity himself. Seeing Paul pray would also remove any ideas that the healing was a result of Paul’s own power. The laying on of hands was a symbolic act signifying the giving of a divine benefit by God. In this case the divine benefit was this man’s healing (see Acts 9:17-18). Note: This healing along with God’s protection of Paul from the snake’s bite was a quick fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that His followers would “take up serpents” and “lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (see Mark 16:18).
B. The healing of others (Acts 28:9). This verse says “So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed.” The phrase “So when this was done” refers to the healing of Publius’ father. After he was healed many others brought their sick to Paul and they were also cured.
C. The islanders’ gratitude (Acts 28:10). Still referring to the many others who came to be healed, Luke says they “also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.” The islanders were thrilled with Paul and his companions and gave them many honors. Luke does not share with us what any of those honors were, but they probably included providing exceptional hospitality to them for the remainder of their stay. Luke closes by saying “when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.” In other word, the people of Malta gave them all that they would need for the rest of their journey. This was God’s way of providing for all of them because of one man’s faith, Paul. What could have been a bleak chapter in Paul’s life became a time of fulfillment for him and blessing for others. Note: Paul’s three month stay on the island of Malta teaches us that the Lord can use us to impact others even in the midst of our trials. In fact, spiritual trials strengthen and equip us to grow in faith so that we can demonstrate God’s power.
V. Conclusion. Faithfulness in difficult storms of life often opens the door for ministry to others. The next time you are wondering what God is doing in your lives, consider that it may be that He is setting the stage for His next miracle. Paul was always prepared and armed with faith. He was ready when God wanted to use him. We too must be ready with prayer and faith for God when He chooses to use us. Our faithfulness often opens the door for ministry to others in the strangest ways. And sometimes these opportunities for ministry come when our lives are badly shipwrecked. 
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