Acts 28:1-16 – Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 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. 7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 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. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. 11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 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. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
“After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 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.” After the rough seas of the winter had settled down Paul and his shipmates were ready to get on to their destination. They found another ship from Alexandria to transport them. The figurehead on this ship was images of Castor and Pollux who worshiped as the patron gods of sailors. Per Greek Mythology they were the twin sons of Zeus. The irony is that the shipmates of Paul may very well have vainly prayed to these two to save them in the high seas, but it was the one true God, the God of Paul, who saved them. Things went exactly as the God of Paul had told them. Whether the irony of sailing on this ship with the two false gods on it was thought of by the sailors, we don’t know. We also don’t know if Paul brought it up. But it would be a little surprising, knowing Paul, if he had not at least made a passing remark about these gods showing up only in smooth waters while God Almighty was with them through smooth waters and rescued them through the roughest seas. It was He who had kept them safe.
When they arrived in Rome they found out that brothers and sisters from Forum of Appius (Forty-Three Miles from Rome) and the Three Taverns (Thirty-three miles from Rome) had heard he would be arriving and so they traveled to meet him there. Including with those who greeted Paul were Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:3-15). What a testimony to the centurion and the soldiers who had traveled with him. The care and love that Paul received was certainly a witness of how the saints of God loved him. That in itself likely impacted them and confirmed that Paul was thought of as a true man of God. What a wonderful witness!
Paul thanked God for his fellow saints who came to greet him and minister to him. It is true that servants of God minister first to please God and because of the love of God within them. It is also true that those who truly love God love His people. (John 21:15-17) Just as Paul was greatly encouraged by knowing that he was loved and not forgotten, still today are men and women who are being used of God likewise encouraged. What a great blessing for Paul!
The NIV translates V16 “When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” The NKJV gives us greater detail “Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.” The centurion completed his assignment when he delivered Paul to the captain of the guard in Rome. This captain was likely a captain over the emperor’s bodyguard. Which makes sense since Paul was brought to appeal his case (though not formally charged with any crime against Rome) to Caesar.
Paul came to Rome as a prisoner who was appealing his case to Caesar. It is how God had opened the door to speak to Caesar. It Paul had come to Rome as a free man, of his own idea, none of the officials of high rank would have granted him an audience. Certainly not Caesar. However, God had found a way to bring Him to Caesar to present the Gospel. The devil often thinks that he has a winning hand but God has it all under control. It is God’s plan that wins out, and that is always true! (Proverbs 19:21) We don’t always walk on soft soil or on a sandy beach, sometimes we walk over uphill paths filled with sharp stones and thorns. Yet we trust God. We know we that God is in control. We know that more than the reality of a difficult patch of the road is the reality that God is always good and that He loves us. Oh our good God loves us so much more than we can imagine! We hold onto that. In that is our peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). It is the peace that only God gives and that the world cannot give, because it is powerless do so. Family, everything is going to be alright. Better than that, it is all going to end perfectly! Let us rest in the words that Jesus gave us “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Yes Lord, we trust you and thereby we have peace. Thank you Lord! We love you Lord! We praise you Lord God Almighty! Ah, the peace of God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”