Paul and Luke continue to receive wonderful hospitality from the Maltese people as they settle in for a winter on the island:
“Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained hospitably for three days” (Ac 28:7).
Publius is about to discover that he is entertaining angels unaware, a fascinating reversal of the command by the author of the Book of Hebrews (likely Paul) in Chapter 13, verse 2. In these days of persecution, hospitality is as valuable to the persecuted as gold, especially when marooned on an island for the winter!
“It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him” (Ac 28:8).
This is not a pretty disease; it took courage for Paul to visit him and to touch him. No social distancing here. No face masks. No sneeze shields. Plentiful germs and odor. Certain risk of impending death.
Paul defies any standard of normal health care for the soul of an old man. It is a beautiful picture.
“And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured” (Ac 28:9).
Luke does not expand on whether Paul preaches to the Maltese people, but can you imagine Paul not preaching as he heals one after another?
“They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed” (Ac 28:10).
There is no story here of conversions and appointment of elders to shepherd a new flock. But for three months, a love-fest goes on between Paul’s party and these generous people. There is a historical tradition that Publius eventually becomes bishop of Malta, and later of Athens, but it cannot be proven. Yet it is more than safe to say that the Christian church at Malta was born and thrived as a result of Paul’s choice to do what he could in perfect unity with God, while in forced quarantine on the island.
What can you do in perfect unity with God, when quarantined even from the neighbor next door? A phone call? A socially-distanced chat across the back fence? A card to someone struggling with loneliness? Or perhaps most importantly, daily time with your whole family to pray for the peace of Jesus to calm and protect those who might meet him during this time!
Motionless pity party or powerful prayer propellers?
And now, for Paul, off to Rome!