Maltese Viper
David Steltz
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning!
We’re very near the end of our study through the book of Acts, as we arrive finally today at chapter 28. We’re rolling fresh off the waves of a storm that eventually ran their vessel aground. We’ll see what happens next today.
It’s going to be a pretty short message, because there’s not too much to cover today, but it’s a very interesting story, certainly not boring, and I pray that it will be encouraging, uplifting, and convicting if necessary. One theme we’ve seen throughout the book of Acts, and that we may keep in mind as we read today is that of how God surrounds his people with his presence, with hope, comfort, and provision. As Psalm 125:2 says:
Verse
Verse
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
Prayer
Prayer
Lord, we thank you for the steadfast faithfulness with which you surround us, whether we’re always aware of it or not. Help us to be aware of you and the leading of your spirit as you fill and equip us to do your will. Open our hearts to receive your word today.
Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage
As we arrive at chapter 28, Paul has been spending quite a bit of time at sea, which came to a very tumultuous end, as we heard last week. In fact, unlike most of the rest of the book so far, chapter 27 was all about the voyage itself…with no direct mention of the preaching of the gospel. It is the journey and the sailing, and of course the shipwreck that take center stage.
At this point, the ship and everyone aboard have been tossed and battered by the storm which eventually brought them to shore, and that’s where the beginning of chapter 28 picks up.
As we near the end of these stories, you may notice that there seems to be a slight shift in pace and tone here, almost as if Luke is running out of resources with which to write. I’m not sure that was the case, it’s just the general “feeling” we get when reading it. This is the last little bit of narrative, and the details are vague, though fascinating.
It makes for a bit of a surreal, whirlwind of an ending here, in my opinion.
Because of that, it’s pretty easy for me to let my imagination run wild with possibilities for what it might have been like to be there, to witness this take place. And that can be really fun! But I’m going to try to resist from straying too far from the text today.
Acts 28:1–22 (LSB)
1 And when they had been brought safely through to shore, then we learned that the island was called Malta.
2 And the natives showed us extraordinary affection; 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.
Wow, talk about a roller-coaster of events! From nearly being consumed by the sea, to eventually being shipwrecked on this island.
On Malta
On Malta
[Map of possible route]
The island, we’re told is called Malta, or Melita. Fittingly enough, the name means “a place of refuge.” It was settled by Phoenicians who came there around 1000 BC. Malta is eight miles by eighteen miles, or 13x29km. It’s about sixty miles (100km) south of Sicily and 180 miles north of Africa.
There’s some debate as to exactly where they landed, and even which island it really was, but there are traditions and stories passed down throughout that region of this taking place somewhere in that vicinity.
There’s even a place called “St. Paul’s Bay” and “St. Paul’s Shipwreck Church!” If you look up images of Malta, the pictures are pretty stunning, I’ve gotta say. It looks gorgeous.
[images]
What a relief, I’m sure it was, to be on dry land! And to be received with such a warm welcome by these natives. Their affection towards them was extraordinary, Paul says! Warm, even in a literal sense, as they prepare and light a fire to help get everyone warm and dry after being washed ashore.
I think it’s really cool that the people of this island were described in this way. We may chuckle a bit at how they interpret these events, but their hospitality towards Paul is certainly admirable. (That is, assuming it wasn’t one of them who put the snake there ;-)
No, we’re told they were very welcoming, and so Paul does something to be helpful, something that seems natural, he gathers up some sticks to contribute, and I can imagine being all ready to toss them on the fire, sit back, enjoy the warmth and relax a bit! After everything he’s been through, it might feel like finally catching a break!
But then, out springs a viper! A venomous snake, of all things! We can think of snakes often represent an overlapping of both physical and spiritual danger, from the serpent in the garden of Eden to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness. Surely the “coincidence” would not be lost on Paul.
And it bites Paul on the hand. Notice, actually, that it doesn’t just bite him, it fastens itself on his hand! It’s hanging on! I thought that was interesting, because not only would that be even more terrifying and painful than just a quick bite, but that means that everyone would have gotten a chance to look over at Paul and see what happened. They would have seen the snake itself clearly, and seen that it was fully engaged with Paul’s hand.
4 And 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.”
I love that word “undoubtedly!” As if there could be no mistaking the very obvious conclusion here. This is a very typical thing we do I think as humans; we like to jump to conclusions. At least, I think it’s very common for us to do this. So often, a situation is presented, and the solution or the conclusion seems so obvious, until one more piece of information is added. Or until a bit more time passes and a broader perspective is revealed.
In this case, their expectations are simply “left hanging” ;-)
Also, did you catch that phrasing, that Justice has not allowed Paul to live? We might read that and think of it in an abstract sense, but in most translations you may notice this is “Justice” with a capital “J,” meaning not just the concept of justice, but the personification thereof in the goddess “Justice.” (You may have seen her around, she’s always holding scales and likes to hang out with Liberty while watching over the Hudson bay).
So, their thinking, initially, that a deity, “Justice” has intervened to castigate Paul.
Interestingly enough, for those of us who do know Paul’s background, we can say they were actually accurate in calling Paul a murderer, weren’t they? He was explicitly complicit in just such guilt!
But then, what does Paul do with this dangling serpent? Let’s keep reading:
5 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 But they were waiting for him to soon swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, changing their minds, they began to say that he was a god.
Isn’t that hilarious?
They go from saying “This guy is obviously a murderer” to saying “Oh, this guy is obviously a god.” They really are adept at jumping to conclusions. And they’ve gone from thinking that a goddess is trying to kill him, to thinking that he IS a god. Which isn’t true, of course, but they are kind of almost right again, because Paul is under the hand of divine favor!
7 Now in the areas around 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 afflicted with fever and dysentery; and Paul, going to see him and having prayed, laid his hands on him and healed him.
9 And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being healed.
10 They also bestowed on us many honors of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.
The exceptional generosity and hospitality of their hosts continues, quite impressively! We know this is already in their character because of how they received Paul and his crew initially, but it seems they were all the more eager to bless them after Paul brings physical healing to them, demonstrating the power and willingness of God’s spirit to heal, not just Paul, his mission man, but for the sake of bringing relief to the suffering, and thereby opening more people’s eyes to the truth. This is of course in pattern with the rest of what we’ve seen throughout Acts.
On to Rome
On to Rome
Let’s keep reading now as they move on from Malta.
11 Now at the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.
(That’s Kastor and Pollux, the sons of Zeus). Another Egyptian ship takes Paul and his companions on board after three months and the worst of winter had passed.
12 After we put into Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.
13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and after a day when a south wind sprang up, on the second day we came to Puteoli.
14 There we found some brothers, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.
Finally! Paul is about to finally get to Rome.
15 And the brothers, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
The “Market” or “Forum” and the “three inns” or “three taverns” were 43 and 35 miles from Rome, respectively, so Luke is naming these milestones that are getting progressively closer and closer to Rome itself.
16 And when we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
Remember, Paul’s still a prisoner, and the whole reason he’s been brought to Rome is because he appealed to Caesar! Now that he’s here, he’s going to to have to follow through with that.
Paul was allowed to have his own space, even, he got hooked up with some private facilities, though he was still guarded by a soldier, it seems he’s still enjoying fairly reasonable accommodations. But Paul’s not going to spend this time alone just thinking to himself. He’s always seeking the support and cooperation of his companions that he can, and that’s exactly what he does next. He brings the leadership together and explains his situation to them:
17 And it happened that after three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 “And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death.
19 “But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.
20 “For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.”
So, he testifies to his innocence, and that even the Romans found him innocent, but that his own people still sought to destroy him.
21 And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.
22 “But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 And when they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly bearing witness about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
We’re going to stop here for today, and Lord willing next week we’ll look more at Paul’s witness and their response in this last part of the chapter.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As it has been the last several weeks, this passage is still mainly narrative. We’re just getting to know the story of what happened, rather than getting teaching and instruction in the way. But you know I still have to try to draw some application points from it, so here are a few themes and thoughts to take away. Let’s consider this story and how it demonstrates God’s providence, God’s community, and God’s mission.
Providence
Providence
First of all, God’s providence continues to be fully on display. In the first six verses particularly, we see the continuation of God’s providential hand of provision and protection on Paul. Having brought him safely ashore, God’s not going to let Paul die of a snake bite. To the contrary, they leave fully provisioned with everything they need. And in the meantime, a bunch of people got healed from whatever diseases they had at the time! A good reminder that when God provides and equips us, and lifts us up, it’s not just for our own benefit, is it? It’s so we can continue the momentum, to pour out into others as we are filled with abundance.
29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Community
Community
And secondly, I want to point out again how Paul approaches the situation with respect, wisdom, and within the context and support of his community. When Paul finally arrives in Rome, he doesn’t just immediately start preaching to the masses from street corners, does he? Instead, he calls the Jewish leaders together to explain his situation, build relationships, and clarify any misconceptions about his teachings. Paul’s approach here shows the importance of engaging people with respect, patience, and cultural sensitivity. By addressing the Jewish leaders first, he acknowledges their leadership and authority, which gives him a respectful platform for sharing his message. It’s a reminder that building relationships and understanding others' perspectives are foundational to effective ministry.
Let us heed the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, which says:
9 Two are better than one because they have good wages for their labor.
10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not a second one to lift him up.
11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can stand against him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
We are not alone; there’s no need to act like we are.
Mission
Mission
Finally, lets take this opportunity to remember why we’re here. To remember the mission purpose to which we’ve been called.
Let us earnestly pray for and also physically minister to those who are in need of healing and restoration. Let us be a force of unity and peace in the midst of division and conflict in our communities. Let us pray for justice and relief for the crushed and oppressed.
Let us boldly declare the reason for the hope that is within us.
I’ll close with some words from Paul to the Ephesians, while he was a prisoner; this just seems like a fitting exhortation to end on today:
1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Pray
Pray