Final Trial

 

    The island that Paul and his shipmates got stranded on was Malta, south of Sicily.  The locals were kind to them and they did what they needed to do to survive the winter on an island.  Paul was building a fire one day and was bitten by a viper.  Everyone thought he would die, but he just shook the snake off into the fire.  (They probably didn't know that not all snakes bites have venom.  Sometimes it is just a warning.)  Paul was not concerned because God had promised him his trial in Rome.  He knew he would not die before that.

    Since Paul did not show any affects from the snake bite, the people began to think he was a god.  Paul ignored the praise because all the glory belonged to God.  He did not stop healing in God's name.  He healed the chief official's father and all the sick people began to come to him.  His service provided them what they needed in supplies when they were ready to leave.

    The 276 people from the ship stayed on Malta for three months.  When they arrived in Rome, Paul lived alone, but still had a guard.  He had earned their respect and trust not to run.  After being in Rome for three days, he had his final trial.  His final statement glorified God.  

    The people that heard didn't understand.  Some believed and some did not.  People without faith hear, but do not understand.  They see God's work, but do not see Him.  People with a callous heart don't want to hear.  If they did, then they would believe.  They would be eternally healed.  

    God sent Paul to the Gentiles because they were open when His own people were not.  Paul stayed in Rome for two years in his own apartment.  He preached to anyone who wanted to hear without hinderance.  

    The author was Luke.  He either finished this book before Paul was executed or chose to keep Paul's death out.  The first is more likely since there has been no issue talking about Jesus' death.  We do know that Paul was executed in Rome.  Was it after this two year span or did he travel and was sent back later to be execute?  We may never know.

Acts 28