The Book of Acts ~ Study Seventy-Seven

"Just Provision"


Acts 28:1-16 (NLT) Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.
   As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
   Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Island of Malta today

   It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. Our first stop was Syracuse,wh ere we stayed three days. From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli. There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
   The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
   When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. 

On shore the men found that they were on the island of Malta. The locals met them there and helped them out with food and such. Paul began making a fire and a snake attached itself to his hand. The locals thought he would die because they believed that the snake bite was fate bringing justice. Paul just shook it off and was not affected by the bite. The locals began to think he was a "god."

God is the only one who can bring true justice to those who have sinned. Let's see what the Bible says about His justice in the following verses:

Revelation 15:2-4 (NLT)  I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”


Revelation 16:7 (NLT) And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”

These verses from the Book of Revelation reveal to us that after all things are gone only God's justice will matter. Those who have sinned and not repented and turned to Jesus for forgiveness of their sins will face His Justice. Paul knew that fate had nothing to do with justice. He knew God's justice was the only true justice to him.

How do you view justice? Does it bother you that so many people get away with things on this earth? Maybe you were abused by someone and they seemed to have gotten away with it, be sure of this, God will deal justly with that person.

Luke 17:1-3 (CEV) Jesus said to his followers, "Things that cause people to sin will happen, but how terrible for the person who causes them to happen! It would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large stone around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to sin. So be careful!
    If another follower sins, warn him, and if he is sorry and stops sinning, forgive him."

Paul didn't correct them orally like he had before when people had called him and Barnabas "gods." Instead, by his actions he pointed them to the One True God. A man named Publius, who owned an estate nearby, invited Paul and his men to his home. Publius was the main official, something like a mayor, and his father was very sick. He had a fever and dysentery. Paul prayed for him and he was healed. Others heard of the miracle and many came to him for healing and were healed. Jesus was made known to these folks because God allowed the shipwreck to happen. It was no surprise to God. God uses seemingly dire circumstances to show His power.

2 Peter 2:9 (NLT) So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

We can rest assured that the trials we face do not go unnoticed by God. He knows everything. Paul rested in this knowledge. We see that God provided for him on Malta and His Name was glorified through the acts of healing there. God provided a way off the island through the generosity of the Publius and the people there. They lived there for three months and put out to sea on another ship. On various stops along the way to Rome, God provided His people to meet Paul's needs. Paul responded in great thanksgiving to God.

Psalm 9:9-10 (NLT) The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

What are your needs? What do you want God to provide for you? You will find shelter from the storm and proverbial "snake bites" of this world when you place your trust in God and His provision. He alone knows what is happening and He alone is just. Not only is He just, but He is faithful and true. So when you find yourself "shipwrecked" with seemingly no way out, turn your eyes upon God through Jesus and trust. He will provide.