SAFE AT MALTA
Refer also to Acts
27:39
Malta was about 500 miles west from Fairhaven. This Island was inhabited by migrants from
Sicily, who settled there in 5200 BC. These first Neolithic people probably
arrived from Sicily (about 100 kilometers or 62 miles north) [4]
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.
We will see in subsequent verses these people referred to as
barbarians. They were called barbarians
because they spoke neither Latin or Greek.
These people are thought to be Phoenician.
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.
Paul demonstrates
his willingness to contribute as a sign of humility and thankfulness for the
barbarian’s hospitality. A Viper mostly refers to the Viperidae family of
snakes. [4] The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of
venomous snakes
found all over the world. This snake may
have been a Blunt
Nosed
Viper (Vipera
Lebetina)
a very poisonous snake of Cyprus and other islands in that area. A bite of this sake at that time could easily
have resulted in Paul’s death.
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.”
Justice is translated from the Greek word: dike
dee'-kay probably from 1166; meaning right (as self-evident), i.e. justice (the
principle, a decision, or its execution):--judgment, punish, vengeance.
see GREEK for 1166 [1]
They believed Paul was guilty of murder and sentenced to die
by the bite of this snake, therefore justice was metered out to Paul. They believed this was to be a fair judgement
by their gods for his suspected crime.
See also Mark
16:17 where Jesus gives His
disciples their commission. We hear in
today’s world people expressing the assumption of guilt by means of tragic
events befalling someone. Ever hear the
phrase ‘he must have sinned look how he suffers’. Luke records in Luke 13:2 and in
Luke
13:4 about the fallacy of assuming guilt through punishing events. Paul showed no fear because he knew God was
protecting him (Acts
23:11) as Jesus told Paul in a
vision that he was to carry the good news to Rome.
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.
The natives were familiar with the results of such a bit,
and when Paul showed no signs of succumbing to the poison they thought he must
be a god. We know it as a miracle; a
promise kept by Jesus as recorded in Mark
16:17.
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.
We don’t know at this point who Publius was. History does tell us this same man was venerated as the first
bishop of Malta. The word entertained is
translated from the Greek word: 3579 xenizo xen-id'-zo from 3581; to be a host
(passively, a guest); by implication, be (make, appear) strange:--entertain, lodge,
(think it) strange. see GREEK for 3581
[1]
I believe Publius gave shelter to Paul and his companions
until other lodgings could be arranged.
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.
Paul’s main mission was to preach the gospel to the Gentile;
however he often healed people in the name of Jesus.
Healings most often led to people believing in the Lord
Jesus. Wow! what a dynamic opportunity
for Paul to minister spiritually.
News traveled fast on this little island. We will see what
happens as a result of this healing in the following verses.
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.
It’s amazing how fast good news travels; scripture does not
tell us how many people lived on the island, and therefore we have no idea how
many were healed through Paul. As in the
past I am certain Paul did not accept the glory for the healing but rather gave
it all to Jesus.
“Marks of respect are best described by the Greek word: time
tee-may' from 5099; a value, i.e. money paid, or (concretely and collectively)
valuables; by analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the
dignity itself:--honor, precious, price, some.” [1]
We must be careful not to assume Paul performed these
miracles for hire; Jesus warned His disciples against such practice as recorded
in Matthew
10:8.
PAUL ARRIVES IN ROME
11 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.
“It is highly
improbable that two ships of Alexandra should have been casually found, of
which the owners were able and willing to receive on board such a number of
passengers ( Acts 27:6
). We may then reasonably conceive that it was compulsory on the owners to
convey soldiers and state travelers” [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. [2]
The twin Brothers refers to the Greek Gods Castor and
Pollux.
12 After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there
for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at
Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came
to Puteoli
Sicily is located about eighty miles north of Malta, or
about one days sail. Now that Paul had
gained much esteem with the captain, pilot, Centurion as well as the rest of
the passengers may have requested this layover to contact Jews and proselytes
[converts] on that island. Rheguim is
located on the southern tip of the boot of Italy.
Verse 13 tells us they were sailing against the wind, which
would involve a technique called tacking.
14 There we found some brethren, and were
invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.
The regency seems to have left the captain and crew to allow
another layover this time seven days.
Paul undoubtedly made the request to lay over through Julius
(the centurion). Scripture does not tell
us of any reasons why this layover was granted.
Perhaps Julius wanted to contact Rome for instructions.
15 And the brethren, when they heard about us,
came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and
when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
Christians, living in Rome, journeyed with great joy to meet
Paul.
Appius is a town about forty-one miles from Rome.
The word Inns was translated from the Greek word: Tabernai tab-er'-nahee plural of Latin
origin; huts or wooden-walled buildings; Tabernoe:--taverns. Perhaps used as places for temporary lodgings. Paul must have been overjoyed at such love he
saw in these Christians who came to welcome him. Paul stopped to thank God and was encouraged
by the Christians.
You can worship God without going to church, as many say
they do. As Christians we however, by attending church, become one body of
believers sharing in each other's victories and raising each other up in prayer
with one voice, one heart, and one body of believers in the name of Jesus the
Christ.
16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to
stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
Paul would have been turned over to the custody of the Praetorian Prefect upon
entering Rome. Praetorian prefect
(Latin: praefectus praetorio, Greek: ἔπαρχος/ὕπαρχος
τῶν πραιτωρίων) was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. As the
highest military authority in the city; prisoners who had requested an audience
with Caesar, would have been utilized as their guards. [1] Praetorian Guard [4]
which was a force protecting the Caesars, much like our secret service, most
likely guarded Paul.
Paul was given private quarters, a consideration perhaps at
the request of Julius (the centurion), or perhaps Paul was considered to be
higher class of prisoner. Perhaps this
decision was based on the letter from Festus which accompanied Paul, stating
Paul was no threat to Caesar or Rome. As
many Praetorian Guard shifts must have been used to guard Paul there was ample
opportunity for Paul to witness to them.
17 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, “Brethren, 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.
“Though banished from the capital by Claudius, the Jews
enjoyed the full benefit of the toleration which distinguished the first period
of Nero's reign, and were at this time in considerable numbers, wealth, and
influence settled at Rome. We have seen that long before this a flourishing
Christian Church existed at Rome, to which Paul wrote his Epistle Jewish
converts and proselytes.” [5]
Jesus had kept his promise to Paul he was in Rome with the
opportunity to minister to Christian and Gentiles alike. However we see here, as Paul was accustomed
to do, first preached to the Jew, telling them first of his circumstance.
18 “And when they had examined me, they were
willing to release me because there was no grounds for putting me to death.
Paul pointed out that the Roman officials in Jerusalem could
not find him guilty of any serious crimes warranting death. In fact these same officials were in favor of
letting Paul go free.
19 “But when the Jews objected, I was forced to
appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation.
Paul points out here it is because of the Jews in Jerusalem
who accused him falsely that he had to appeal to Caesar.
Was Paul talking about his Nation Rome by birth; or of his
nation Israel?
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.”
What is the “hope of Israel” Paul speaks of here? We must look back at Acts
26:6,7 for the answer to this question. Paul was of course referring to the
Promise God had made to the fathers of Jews nation.
21 They said to him, “We have neither received
letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and
reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 “But we desire to hear from you what your
views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against
everywhere.”
Communications between Judea and Rome would have been
suspended during the winter months due to the dangerous sailing conditions,
which explains their ignorance.
In verse 22 Paul uses the term “sect”. It is obvious these Jewish leaders had not
heard the Christians referred to as members of the “Sect”, and wanted learn
more of this sect. These leaders may
have known a little about the sect probably bad reports perhaps from the Romans
or merchants about this Christian sect.
Paul was a Jew, and
as a recognized leader in this new sect he was a Christian and therefore could
dispel any misgivings.
23 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 testifying 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. 24 Some were being persuaded by the things
spoken, but others would not believe.
Paul was staying as a guest in a large house, some believe
the house may have been rented or owned by Aquila and Priscilla who may have
returned to Rome ( see Romans
16:3). We will see in verse 30
however indication these quarters were rented by Paul. Paul preached the message of salvation to
them. He undoubtedly used the Old
Testament prophets to persuade the Jews the Messiah had come, and this promised
Messiah was Jesus the Nazarene. Paul
loved his brethren and did not want to see them perish.
25 And when they did not agree with one another,
they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit
rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will
keep on hearing, but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will
not perceive; 27 For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And
hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would
heal them.”’
Paul was quoting the Prophet Isaiah as recorded in Isaiah
6:9. Jesus had quoted these same
words as written in Matthew
13:14,15.
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that this
salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” 29 [When he had spoken these words, the Jews
departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]
Because the Jewish people were so steeped in Jews law, and
ordinances; and believing them to be the path to salvation they could not see
nor understand the good news whereas the gentiles had not been so indoctrinated
so as not to have an open mind.
Paul was stating his mission to bring the good news of
salvation to the gentiles was a commission given to him by God. We do not know why the [bracketed] words do
not appear in some manuscripts, perhaps the writer thought them to be
superfluous. As in the past some Jews
believed and some did not. As it is
today some people will be faced with the truth and yet will not see.
30 And he stayed two full years in his own
rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with
all openness, unhindered.
Here again scripture does not tell us who paid the rent or
how Paul could have afforded to pay the rent.
Perhaps he earned the money from making repairing, and selling tents. Scripture does state this rented dwelling was
his own which means it was not shared by others. Paul preached of the kingdom of God
unfettered by Rome nor unbelieving Jews.
It was for this reason Jesus brought Paul to Rome to preach
of Jesus and of the kingdom of God. Paul
was still under house arrest. I believe
this because his congregation came to him and not the other way around. Emperor Claudius was succeeded by Nero in
October 54AD and Christian persecution began shortly thereafter.
This marks the end of the history of the early Christian
church and the Apostle Paul’s part in its growth. As we have seen thus far the Apostle Paul
served the Lord faithfully, obeying the Lord Jesus’ command to go into the
world and preach the gospel to the gentile.
The Bible does not say how or when Paul died. There is an
early tradition by Ignatius,
probably around 110 AD, that Paul was martyred.[85] Dionysius of
Corinth in a letter to the Romans (166–174 AD), stated that Paul and Peter
were martyred in Italy.[86] Eusebius
also cites the Dionysius passage.[87] [4]
There is little doubt the apostle Paul died as a martyr at
the hands of Nero
who is infamously remember in history as the most cruel ruler of the Roman
empire, killing Christians by the
thousands in most grotesque ways. The apostle Paul is credited with writing 14
of the 27 books of the new testament. 13
of the 14 books are called the Pauline epistles, or Epistles of Paul
beginning with the book of Romans. Our
next course of study will be of one of Paul’s epistles.
CITATIONS AND CREDITS
[1] –scripture verses from Cross wire Study Bible
[3] – Commentaries By Marion Adams
[4] – Wikipedia.org
[5] – Jewish
encyclopedia
