Malta Miracle
2014-10-12
Acts 28:1-10
1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that
the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness,
for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and
was cold.
3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on
the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When
the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one
another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the
sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and
suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down
dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him,
they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging
to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained
us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick
with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his
hands on him healed him.
9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on
the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us
greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
The ships crew has
been in a hurricane for two weeks and now they have run aground in Malta (Malta
means: “refuge”):
· Malta is a Mediterranean island 60
miles off “toe” of Italy.
· This is the forth time Paul has been
shipwrecked: 2 Cor 11:25 written 2 years before this shipwreck.
The Islanders welcomed
276 soaked, cold, and exhausted visitors with a campfire.
· Paul was exhausted too, but helped
gather firewood.
o These humble/menial tasks (picking
sticks) were not above servant Paul.
· It does not appear that God is blessing
his Christ-like act. Act 28:2-4
o Paul doesn’t panic but also didn’t
do the “spiritual” thing...(pray, preach sermon).
§ Christians are immortal until all
Christ has for us to do is done.
The Islanders
interpreted the snakebite as a divine retribution – They thought Paul was guilty of murder.
· The islanders thought he had escaped
the justice of God in the storm but justice will catch up with him.
o Even without the Mosaic Law the
people had a sense of morality granted to them by God.
· This is a classic illustration of the
General Revelation of God to all. Rom
1:18-25, 2:14-15
o Everyone has an internal perception that
God exists, He’s the Creator, & they have some sense of morality
(right/wrong) that includes consequences for both.
· General revelation is a great
blessing to society: because people have a conscience, there is a restraint of
evil.
o It’s the reason Christians find
consensus with non-Christians for acceptable conduct.
§ Even Ghanaian witch doctors know
Islam beheadings are wrong.
· The wicked, by General Revelation,
know their sin is wrong, at least in large measure.
o That’s the reason God can hold all
people responsible for sin.
But General Revelation
doesn’t save, & can’t prevent bad theology.
· It was good that they recognized
supernatural power but snakebites don’t prove wrongdoing any more than hard
times always imply hidden sin.
o Pharisees thought that way. John 9:2
Here God is using bad
situation to swing the Islanders’ opinion of Paul from murderer to a god, &
thus open door for evangelism. Act 28:5-9, Mk 16:17-18
· This miracle & the healings that
follow made Paul's gospel creditable as a divine revelation
o It is likely Paul refuted the claim that
he was a god & proclaimed Gospel.
· Thought they were helping the
passengers but God sent Paul & the gospel to help them.
o Paul escaped “justice” (physical death)
& they could escape sting of sin (death) through Jesus.
§ Tradition: In 3-4 months Paul
founded church in Malta & Publius was the 1st pastor.
§ In the 3rd & 4th
century A.D. there was a thriving Christain community on Malta.
Here Paul should have
died but didn’t; God used that miracle as sign of His power & to show the
truth of Gospel….may do same thru you.
· It is not just miracles that get
noticed by others, but also an UNEXPECTED Christ-like response to
adversity/suffering. Like the snakebite, it may be used by Holy Spirit to open
hearts to Gospel & bring glory to Jesus.
o Our natural response: anger,
frustration, and impatience; but if you’re joyful, peaceful, or patient that is
not a natural response but a supernatural response.
o Jam 1:2, Phil 4:4-7, 2 Cor 1:3-4, Heb
10:32-34, 1 Pet 2:11-12
§ Ask Christ to enable you respond to
bad, difficult, & unjust things that happen to you in Christ-like way that
is contrary to your FLESH & the expectations of the world.
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