Page 134 - Acts Student Textbook

had promised Paul would go to Rome, and that promise would not be defeated by an animal. This
shows the futility of the superstitious attempts of people to interpret events as omens. These people
were obviously superstitious; yet many people today, in our supposedly enlightened generation, are
just as superstitious. Sometimes “religious people” are among the worst. They interpret good events
as indications that they are in God’s favor, and bad events as signs God is displeased with them.
Often good people suffer more in this life than evil people, and evil people may be blessed physically
above good people. Our ultimate rewards from God come after this life, not during it. Events here
are not intended to reveal God’s will to us. True, some events are blessings from God, but you cannot
read His will or favor by observing signs.

This experience would have been frightful for anyone, but Luke tells it calmly and factually, showing
that his intent was not to be sensational. Had some modern faith healer done what Paul was about
to do, he would have shouted it from the housetop. Also note that Paul, as an apostle and preacher,
did not consider himself above menial labor. He was working to bring wood for the fire just like
everyone else. Some preachers and religious leaders seem to think they are too good to do menial
tasks. We must maintain our priorities on the most important work, but when work needs to be done
and we are available, we should be willing to do our part. Pratte here make an interesting argument,
“Some have claimed this could not have been a poisonous viper, since vipers bite but do not
normally fasten onto their victims. However, the people of the island surely knew best about the
snakes on their island, and they expected Paul to drop dead from the bite (v6). Whatever the reason
why the snake fastened on Paul’s hand, it was definitely a poisonous snake and it definitely did bite
Paul. By fastening on Paul’s hand, it proved beyond doubt that it had bitten Paul and that it had
plenty of opportunity to inject its venom into him. No one who saw the event doubted what had
happened. The only people who doubt the record are the skeptics who were not there and refuse to
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admit the accuracy of Scripture.”

How was God’s power evident through Paul in the snake attack, and what implication did that
bring? (28:5, 6)

Despite the obvious threat to his life, Paul shook the viper off into the fire and was not in any way
harmed. This miracle is an express fulfillment of Mark 16:18. However, Paul did not deliberately
choose to handle a viper to prove his power, like some modern snake-handling faith healers. The
situation occurred by the course of nature; but God protected Paul and, in so doing, worked a great
miracle to teach the people. The people of the island expected Paul to swell up from the bite and
drop dead. But when they saw he was not harmed as they expected, they changed their minds and
concluded he was a god. Like the heathen in Acts 14:11, they swung from one extreme to another.
Their first judgment was wrong, and so was their second. They failed to consider that Paul could have
power granted him by God without himself being a god. Paul had apparently done no miracle on the
voyage (other than prophesying the future). However, here he began a series of miracles that proved
his inspiration to the islanders and his fellow travelers.

How was the manifestation of God’s power evident in the second incident at Malta and what were
the implications? (28:7-10)

The ship had wrecked close to the property of the chief man of the island, named Publius. This man
was very generous and hospitable to the unfortunate people, and entertained them with courtesy
for three days. This was doubtless quite a feat considering the great number of them (though it is
possible the term “us” refers only to Paul’s company, since the people obviously thought him so
special). However, Publius’ father was sick from fever and dysentery (inflammation of the bowels
resulting in hemorrhaging, etc.). Paul went in to him, laid hands on him, prayed, and healed him.

92 Ibid, (p. 387).
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