After the initial shock of being shipwrecked at Malta passed, the chief man on the island, Publius, welcomed the beleaguered men and showed warm, “ancient” hospitality to these men. While the men found great refreshment in the kindness of their host, Paul visited Publius’ father who was bedridden with fever and dysentery. Countering the people’s belief that he was a god, Paul put his hands on this diseased man and prayed aloud to God, indicating he was not a god but rather dependent as a commissioned representative of God. In the power of Jesus, the man was wonderfully healed. Upon hearing this, all other diseased people on Malta immediately came and received healing. The Maltese people responded to their divine healing by showering Paul and his team with every necessary supply for the continuance of their journey.
After 3 months on the island, the men embarked on another Alexandrian grain ship traveling Syracuse, Rhegium, and then Puteoli. In Puteoli, they “discovered” fellow Christians and were able to spend a whole week in fellowship with them. From Puteoli, they made the final journey to Rome on land. The Roman Christians had heard of Paul’s arrival, and they streamed out of Rome as a welcoming delegation party to greet him at the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to joyfully escort him the rest of the way to Rome. Seeing such a demonstration of love from these Roman Christians moved Paul to joyfully thank God and take courage for whatever he would encounter in Rome. Once they reached Rome proper, Paul was permitted to stay in a private residence but still chained to a soldier. Paul had indeed arrived in Rome but as a prisoner for Jesus.
Questions to consider in this passage:
- Did Publius entertain/host the entire group of shipwrecked men or a smaller group?
- What did Paul’s prayer and laying hands on Publius’ father represent?
- Why doesn’t Luke mention the gospel or preaching on Malta?
- Who were the twin gods of this Alexandrian ship, and what did they represent?
- How did Christians come to be at Puteoli?
- Why did Paul react to these Roman Christians in the expressive manner he did?
- What was Rome like in Paul’s day?
- Where can we find more occurrences of God’s providence in this passage?
You can listen to this teaching on Acts 28:7-16 by clicking on the following link: Rome At Last
