Day #225: Acts 28:1-31

Apparently, the jostling of Paul’s walking, combined with the warmth of the fire, caused a poisonous snake to become roused. It struck Paul on the hand.

The Maltese people quickly tried to make sense of these events by using their pagan presuppositions. Steeped in Greek legends and stories of gods relentlessly bringing wrongdoers to justice, they concluded that Paul must have been guilty of murder. Though Paul had somehow escaped divine retribution in the shipwreck, Nemesis, the Greek goddess of retribution, must have orchestrated this additional means of punishing him.

To the amazement of the Maltese observers, Paul not only did not drop dead, he did not even exhibit any swelling or discomfort. God had promised safe passage to him, and nothing could prohibit his reaching Rome. When these superstitious pagans saw that Paul was unhurt by the poisonous snake, they did a complete about-face in their assessment of him.

Malta fever and dysentery is now known to be caused by microbes in goats’ milk. This illness seems to have been common on the island. A person could be ill for a few months to two or three years. When Paul learned that Publius’s father was suffering from this disease, he visited him, laid hands on him, and prayed over him. The man’s complete healing followed. The news of this miracle spread quickly, and soon everyone with any kind of disease or ailment came to Paul to be cured.

Three months passed and now finally, the stage was now set for Paul to begin ministering in the most influential city in the world. At last Paul arrived in Rome. This was the fulfillment of a long-term desire.

Paul’s first act in Rome was to call together the Jewish leaders. He wanted to declare his innocence of the charges brought against him in Jerusalem. But more than this, he wanted to proclaim the gospel to his Hebrew brothers.

The books of 1 Timothy and Titus were written during this time. Later, Paul was imprisoned again, probably in Rome, where he wrote his last letter (2 Timothy).

During this first Roman imprisonment, he spoke with all boldness and no one tried to stop him. The Greek word akolutos (“without hindrance”) is the last word of Acts, thus ending the book on a triumphal note. Many readers, however, have thought that the book ends too abruptly, especially in that it doesn’t relate what happened to Paul. But it must be remembered that the book is not about the life of Paul but about the spread of the gospel, and that had been clearly presented by Luke. God apparently thought it was not necessary for someone to record the entire history of the early church. Now that the gospel had been preached and established at the center of trade and government, it would spread across the world.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

As I read the passage today, one phrase keeps coming to my mind - keep on pressing on. I don't care what's got you down - keep pressing on. I don't care how much resistance you face - keep pressing on. I don't care how bleak things look - keep pressing on. I don't care how often you have fallen and failed - keep pressing on.

Winston Churchill said - "If you're going through hell, keep going."

Calvin Coolidge said - "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are important. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

God says in Ephesians 6:13-18 (MB) "Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. 14 Truth, righteousness, 15 peace, 16 faith, 17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. 18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out."