Good morning. Today, I would like to have us consider the apostle Paul’s adventure that we read about in Acts 26-28.
God had determined that Paul would go to Rome and present the truth of the gospel to the powers of Roman government. We read in Acts 26 that Paul makes his appeal not for himself so much as for the sake of the gospel, with king Agrippa asking if it is Paul’s intention to persuade him to become a Christian. Paul doesn’t hesitate and says that nothing would please him more (Acts 16:24-32). In verse 32, Agrippa notes that if Paul had wanted to do so, he could have been set free. But that wasn’t God’s plan, so it wasn’t Paul’s plan either.
Instead, chapters 27 & 28 of Acts are given to describe the sea voyage of Paul, Luke, and others as they undergo the 2,400 mile sea voyage to Rome. The way Luke describes the ordeal, Paul began the journey being treated as a prisoner but as events unfolded, he becomes a person deserving the respect of his captors. Their ship was overcome by a fierce storm, and they were shipwrecked, which could have cost all 276 aboard their lives. But Paul told everyone that God was with them, and that they would all survive. This was what happened, even though many of them apparently couldn’t swim.
Chapter 28 tells us about Paul, shipwrecked on the island of Malta. The native people (the Greek language word used is “barbarian”) were friendly and helpful, but we read of this event: Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”
I suppose that from the islander’s point of view their take on the situation made perfect sense. Paul must have really angered his god if after being saved from the shipwreck he is going to die a painful death from a snakebite. Paul’s god must have been one warped and twisted god to make a man go through so much! But that is not the end of the story. We read on: But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. What a complete about face of opinion. In one moment, they believe that Paul must have been a horrendous murderer to have so angered his god, and a few moments later they decide that anyone who avoided death in this way must be a god himself!
After this episode, Paul and his companions are the guests of a chief official of the island. His father was very sick, seemingly near death, and Paul, after prayer, invokes the power of Jesus and heals him. Soon, the sick from all over the island were being brought to him to be healed. Paul undoubtedly was making a tremendous impression on the island of Malta in the name of Jesus.
What we don’t read about is the impression that Paul is making on his Roman captors. But as we read the rest of the chapter we see that it must have been very remarkable. When, after three months on Malta, they set sale again, it seems as though Paul is in charge. As their journey continued they came to the city of Puteoli and we read: There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so, we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
That last sentence describes Paul’s initial Roman imprisonment, and from his place of captivity he writes some of what we know as “the prison epistles.” The Romans have gone from treating him as just another prisoner being sent for trial at Rome, to recognizing him as a person of divine influence and power.
My hope for our thought for the day is that we might give some consideration to God’s faithfulness. God’s grace, mercy, and care goes so far beyond the expectations of people that it can be misunderstood. But Paul always knew that God was with him, and he acted in faith with that knowledge. We need to always remember that when we are living in obedience to the will of God He walks with us in power and in grace. Expect to be blessed, even when the world around doesn’t understand.
God bless you throughout the voyage of your day!
Vern