Acts 28:1-6

Summary retelling of Acts 28:1-6

After the shipwreck experience was over, it was learned that the island upon which they were shipwrecked was called Malta.  The native people were hospitable, giving the ability to make and sustain fires to those who were shipwrecked.  As Paul was gathering sticks to sustain fire, he was bit on the hand by a viper.  At first, the native people of Malta took it as a sign of guilt because the “gods” had seen fit to kill him even after escaping a shipwreck in the midst of a bad storm.  However, Paul shook off the snake and suffered no ill effects from the bite of the snake.  When they saw that Paul hadn’t died from the bite – or even gotten sick – the native people of Malta changed their opinion of him and considered it a good omen.  They began to look upon Paul as if he were a god himself.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The native people are friendly to those who are shipwrecked.  This is more of a significant note than it seems.  Remember, there are 276 of these shipwrecked people.  It is not as though 3 or 4 people descended unexpectedly upon Malta.  Caring for 276 stranded victims would be no small measure of hospitality.  But the people of Malta were indeed generous.

What makes some people naturally hospitable?  What essential characteristic does a person need to have in order to live a life of hospitality?

Second Thought:

Paul is bitten by a viper – a venomous snake.  In the Bible, the word used to describe the snake is a word that is often used for asps, cobras, or vipers in general.  (Modern taxonomy suggests that it may be the Leopard Snake that bit Paul.)  Whatever snake it is, remember that the author of the book of Acts is Luke, and Luke clearly is one of the ones shipwrecked (note this passage begins with “we”).  Luke was a master researcher and physician.  We can trust this account as having actually happened.  How fortunate was Paul to be bitten by a poisonous snake and not suffer any ill effects!

Why do you think Paul didn’t suffer any effects?  Was the snake out of venom?  Did the snake choose to not envenomate?  Did the snake envenomate but God protected him anyways? 

Third Thought:

Isn’t it funny how people use the events around them however they see fit?  When Paul is bit, the native folks assume it’s a bad thing.  When he doesn’t die, that bad thing suddenly turns into proof that he’s a god.  When we don’t have a concrete faith structure (like that presented in the Bible) we can get tossed around from one thought to another.  We are always trying to interpret the things around us to get a perspective on “fate” or “luck” or “chance” or “signs.”  God wants us to be confident in our faith by focusing on Him and discerning His will through His Word and the fellowship of the saints rather than by looking at chance or fate.

Do you ever get sucked into believing that you’re unlucky or that you are carrying around bad karma?  What is the danger in putting too much stock into those ideas?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 28:7-10