Daily Thoughts from Acts: Through the Storm (Acts 28:1-10)

After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 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. 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. 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.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 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.

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. 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. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.  (Acts 28:1-10 ESV)

The friendly natives of Malta share the belief that there must be a reckoning of justice so that humans get what they deserve for the way they have lived their lives.  They also believe that God or the gods will intervene in a person’s life to mete out justice.  But their assessment about Paul and about God is proven not to be entirely accurate.  God does not always prevent suffering in the lives of His children and not every element of suffering can be attributed to the wrong a believer has done.  In this case, God uses the suffering to demonstrate His power to care for His children.  It becomes part of the witness Paul and his team have to these people. 

In our own lives God may not grant protection in suffering or from suffering, but as we demonstrate our faith in Him we give witness to what we believe is more important than our happiness or our healing, and that is our holiness (Romans 8:28,29; 2 Cor 12:1-11; Daniel 3:16-18).  That doesn’t mean we should not ask for healing.  That too is a way God shows the reality of our faith.

Paul’s ability by God’s power to heal Publius’ father brings a wave of visits from the people of the island as word spreads that God is healing.  It favorably disposes the people even more to Paul and his shipmates so that they provision them for the next leg of their journey.  Interestingly there is no mention of Paul preaching the gospel here, though certainly he made it clear that what power was evident was Jesus’ power.  Luke normally indicates, however, when people believe the gospel.

We may wonder what the crew of the ship and the Centurion who was escorting Paul had come to believe about Jesus as they watched person after person get healed in the name of Jesus.  Luke does not tell us this, either.  But each of these folks has just gone through a near-death experience that has exposed what they hoped in as insufficient.  Only Paul and his companions had any peace during the storm and it came entirely because of their faith in Jesus Christ.  That was no doubt as powerful a witness as the miracles God performed through them.

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill He treasures up His bright designs And works His sov’reign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flow’r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

[William Cowper, 1774]