Snake in the grass

Acts 28:1–10 NASB95

1 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10 They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

Malta

Largest of the Maltese Islands

60 miles south of Sicily

Currently a little more than 1/2 million people live on the island.

Maltese dog breed

Maltese Falcon (1941 Crime drama with Humphrey Boggard )

Natives - Barbarians

The Snake

Fastened itself on his hand.

Not a quick bite, where very little venom might be injected, but a full bite with all the venom injected.

They expected him to die.

Acts 28:4 NASB95

4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.”

Common thought.

Karma vs. Consequence

Galatians 6:7 NASB95

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

2 Corinthians 9:6 NASB95

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Job 4:8 NASB95

8 “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it.

Luke 6:38 NASB95

38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

We receive the consequences of how we live our life.

Karma

Hinduism, Buddhism, and SikhismTaoism.

The universe will punish the wicked.

reincarnation/Karma

CONSEQUENCES - DO BAD THINGS AND BAD THINGS MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU.

KARMA - IF BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, IT MEANS THAT YOU MUST HAVE DONE BAD THINGS.

The Book of JOB.

Be clear. Bad things happen to good people.

When Paul didn’t die, they thought he was a God.

Leading man of the island (Publius)

This would have been the Roman assigned leader.

Once Paul healed his father, everyone got in line to be healed.

Luke 4:38–40 NASB95

38 Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. 39 And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them. 40 While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.

The anti-climatic end.

Acts 28:10 NASB95

10 They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.

NOTES. Three months on the island of Malta.

Not one mention of the Gospel being preached.

Descriptive vs. Prescriptive

Some text in the bible just tell us what happened.

Descriptive - The creation story

Some text tells us what we should and shouldn’t do.

Prescriptive - The 10 Commandments

Major problems occur when we get those two things confused.

Mark 16:17–18 NASB95

17 “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

This is Jesus’ description to his followers of how they would know who would be telling the truth (And) How they would know that they were staying in the center of His will as they established the church.

Proof in point, when Jesus said this, he was possibly talking about what Paul would do on the Island of Malta.

He was not telling us to go out and cast out demons, speak in tongues, pick up serpents or drink poison.

Nehemiah 13:25 NASB95

25 So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

Descriptive

Matthew 27:4–5 NASB95

4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

descriptive

The thing about Descriptive Text:

Give us insight into God’s nature.

Prayer of Jabez.

1 Chronicles 4:9–10 NASB95

9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” 10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.

Descriptive: But can be emulated.

Prescriptive

Matthew 5:43–44 NASB95

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Prescriptive

Gospels are descriptive, but much of Jesus’ teaching was prescriptive.

The old testament law was prescriptive, but much of it was prescriptive to the Jewish people before Christ.

The New Testament Letters are mostly Prescriptive to the people of that day, but because they were Christians believers, they also are prescriptive to us.