So we went toward Rome

Not long after they arrive on shore there is a further attack of the enemy: a viper comes out of the heat of the fire and strikes Paul on the hand. Over these past few chapters we have seen so many attacks on Paul’s life, as the enemy would seek to thwart God’s purpose. It is hard to imagine how Paul must have felt with such sustained pressure against him. However, once again we see that our God is far greater than the enemy. As so often, what starts out as an attack of the enemy turns instead to the glory of God. The islanders’ conclusion that Paul was a god gave him an attentive audience to which he could explain the truth. The healing of Publius’ father, and, subsequently, of many others on the island, would also have given authority to the message that he brought to them, as pagans, who knew nothing of God.

And so the gospel came to Malta. Yet, it came by way of a shipwreck. Had they taken Paul’s advice they would have bypassed the island altogether, yet all was under the controlling hand of the Almighty. Often, when we are passing through difficult circumstances, it is easy to forget this, but, as we have seen already, the result that the Lord has in mind is far greater than we could imagine. Let us, then, take encouragement from this.

Whether verse 10 refers to the whole company, or just Paul and his companions, it is clear that others benefitted from the actions and testimony of the apostle. How often it is the case that one person standing for the Lord will bring blessing on those around, even the ungodly!

So Paul arrives in Italy. Note the change that has taken place, v. 14. Although Paul is still technically a prisoner he is now much more than that. The brethren at Puteoli desire them to stay for a week and there is no voice raised against it. The journey to Rome is one of joy and fellowship as the believers come out to meet him. What an encouragement it was to Paul to see them, v. 15. It wasn’t much that they did, but it meant a lot to him! In Rome, no doubt on the centurion’s recommendation, he was permitted to stay in his own hired house and to continue ‘preaching . . . and teaching . . . no man forbidding him’, v. 31.