May the mumbling commence!
Okay, all you fans of The Hobbit: You know the old saying out of the frying pan and into the fire? Well, Paul found himself in a similar situation – out of the capsizing ship and bitten by a viper. Read from the beginning of Acts chapter twenty-eight:
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, Justice has not allowed him to live." 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.
There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. (Verses 1-10)
Shipwrecked! Capsized! And still Paul made it safely to the island of Malta (along with the other sailors). Praise God, right!?! Paul even was chipping in and gathering wood for the fire, only to find himself bitten by a snake! Snake bitten!
It is small wonder that the people of Malta thought Paul to be cursed and guilty of some bad action – like murder. The irony of the situation is that Paul had been guilty of murder. He had stood, as Saul, in a former life and gave his approval of the killing of many Christians – the first known person being Stephen.
Did Paul hear their accusations? Perhaps, he did. And, perhaps, he hung his head low – remembering the faces of those he led to their death. I wonder, when Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, if Paul saw more than just the Lord Jesus. I wonder if Paul also got a brief glimpse of Stephen and the many other people he had given his stamp of approval for the death sentence.
If Paul did hang his head, his head did not hang for long. Paul knew that he was forgiven. The mercy and grace and love of God had transformed him into what he was that day. And God underscored this gift to Paul by saving Paul from the snake’s poison. God had promised to Paul that he would arrive in Rome to testify for Christ there (27:23-24).
When Paul did not die from the snake bite, the people of Malta mistook Paul for a god. As Paul healed many on the island with sickness and disease, Paul did not change their minds. The people of Malta honored Paul and his companions, giving them everything they needed for their trip to Rome.
What a temptation! They thought Paul was a god! This passage says nothing about how Paul responded to the people of Malta making this mistaken assumption. Out of the capsizing ship, bitten by a snake, continued life, and thought to be a god! I wonder how Paul responded to the people of Malta…
I wonder how we respond to going from one dangerous situation to another. May we give glory to God the Creator, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. May we give that glory for the mercy, grace and love given to us. May we give that glory in dangerous situations. May we make known to others whom we serve. May we make known who has the power to overcome and heal us from all our ailments. Salvation is in Christ alone.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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