Tuesday, August 26, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Acts 28:1–10

After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The local people showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Now in the vicinity of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed. (NRSVUE)

Reflection

Paul’s brief visit to the island of Malta — one of a handful of curious passages in Acts that uses “we” language rather than omniscient narration — comes from the book’s final chapter, as Paul heads to Rome to await trial. These verses contain echoes of many other books from the biblical text — perhaps none more so than Luke’s tenth chapter, in which Jesus gives the disciples authority to “cure the sick” (10:9) and “tread on snakes ... nothing will hurt you” (10:19). Indeed, throughout the entirety of the Book of Acts, Paul has demonstrated that he stands squarely in this line of apostolic succession.

Yet even as the sick are healed and venomous effects are ignored, there is a lingering tension over the final chapters of Acts, knowing that Paul’s visit to Rome will be his last. Acts does not record what ultimately happened to Paul, but the earliest church writers are seemingly unanimous in believing that Paul was executed in Rome — a fact that likely would have been known by the book’s earliest audience. What, then, are we to make of Paul’s calm continuation of the mission and ministry given to him?

It’s hard to imagine Paul wouldn’t have experienced a level of fear as his arrest and trial in Rome drew near — and yet even amid that uncertainty, Paul continues to “proclaim the kingdom of God” until the book’s final verse (28:31). We may not control all that lies ahead for us either, but we can certainly control what we do with the time that we are given, making God’s love made known wherever and however we can.

Prayer

Holy God, help me to “hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9) — making your love manifest in my words and actions this day. Amen. 

Written by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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