1 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called [a]Malta. 2 The [b]natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out [c]because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the [d]natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, [e]justice has not allowed him to live.” 

5 However, [f]Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Acts 28:1-6 (NASB) 中文

Journey to Rome

After two and a half years of trials by the Jews in Jerusalem then Roman officials in Caesarea, Paul is now on the way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. On the way, the Roman centurion and the boat’s crew didn’t listen to his advice about staying in Fair Havens for the winter. They got caught up in a terrible storm for 2 weeks! Paul encouraged them to trust God by example. The boat ran aground on a reef and was decimated by the waves but all 276 on board survived as Paul said.

Justice prevails?

So they all made it to the shore of Malta alive as Paul had said. They were welcomed by the natives of the island. The group of 276 must have overwhelmed the islanders! Paul gets bitten by a (presumably) poisonous snake. The islanders then presumed it was the fate of the gods – that justice caught up with Paul and he was being punished even though he escaped the shipwreck. But God spared Paul yet again. He has a stated purpose for Paul that won’t be thwarted.

Condemnation to veneration

As Paul didn’t succumb to any sickness or death, the islanders were amazed. Maybe they were wrong. Was this man before them is not a criminal afterall. Maybe he is actually a god! But they didn’t go as far as those in Lystra (Acts 14:8-13) who actually worshiped Paul (and Barnabas). 

RЯeflection

• “‘Divine Justice’ had no more claim against Paul – it had all been satisfied by Jesus’ work on the cross. God’s justice could never harm Paul, nor anyone who has had all his or her sins paid for by the work of Jesus on the cross.” (enduringword.com) Our sins have been paid for! Do you believe it? Give thanks if you do. Click here if you don’t.
• It may seem minor but notice that Paul was working with the rest of them. He didn’t take on a “I told you so” attitude and let others do the work. No, he got into the work himself. And he didn’t take a self-righteous attitude – considering his holy work too important to allow him to do manual labor.