Acts: To The Ends Of The EarthSample

Paul arrives on Malta, where Luke records that he and his companions are shown "unusual kindness" (vv. 2; also v. 10).

Even though he has emerged as the leader of the sailing party, Paul is not above ordinary tasks, such as collecting firewood (v. 3).

A snake bites Paul, and the Maltese conclude he must be a murderer, because he has survived the storm, only to die of snakebite. When Paul does not die, the consensus changes and he is thought to be a god. The people venerate him, just as the Lystrans did in Acts 14:11. In the record of this incident of the snakebite, Paul’s solidarity with Jesus and His messengers is reinforced. (See Luke 10:19.)

Paul has an active ministry on Malta—further evidence of his ministry to Greeks and non-Greeks (see Rom. 1:14). After three months there, they continue the journey to Rome (Acts 28:11–14). 

The ship that brought Paul to Puteoli, the seaport of Rome, sailed under the figurehead of Castor and Pollux on its bow (v. 11). These were the mythical twin sons of Zeus, thought to be protectors of those who sail upon the seas. But Paul’s deliverer all through his journey has been Yahweh. Paul now arrives on the coast of Italy under the figurehead of these pagan deities, but his encouragement does not come from these brothers. On the contrary, Luke writes in verse 14, "There we found some brothers…" Also at Rome, "The brothers there…travelled…to meet us" (v. 15). Paul was thankful and encouraged by the members of the family of the true God.

Emotionally and physically exhausted as he was, Paul took great heart at the sight of these brothers in Christ, in preparation for whatever awaited him in his appeal to Caesar.

Reflection

Paul has come through an exhausting storm and shipwreck, been washed up on a beach, bitten by a viper, and now he is about to walk from Puteoli to Rome (140 miles). God’s gospel is unstoppable and its messenger, who still has work to do, is also unstoppable. How do these facts affect the way you think about:

• your life;
• your ministry;
• your mission?