The Shipwrecked Kingdom: Providence, Power, and Provision Text: Acts 28:7-10
Introduction: The Government of God
We live in an age that is terrified of chaos and yet does everything in its power to produce it. Men want a world that is safe, predictable, and prosperous, but they want it without a king on the throne. They want the fruit of God's meticulous providence without bowing the knee to the God who is provident. But the world does not run on autopilot. History is not a series of unfortunate, or fortunate, accidents. It is a story, written by a sovereign author, and every shipwreck, every snakebite, every fever, and every act of kindness is a sentence in that story.
The apostle Paul, a prisoner in chains, has just survived a catastrophic storm and shipwreck, only to be bitten by a viper on the beach of Malta. The pagan locals, operating on their faulty but understandable theological software, first assumed he was a murderer whom justice had finally caught, and then, when he suffered no harm, they swung to the opposite ditch and decided he was a god. This is what happens when you try to interpret the world without the Scriptures. You will always misread the providence of God.
But God's purpose in this shipwreck was not simply to display His power over the elements or over the venom of a snake. God's purpose was evangelistic. He ran that ship aground on Malta because He had an appointment there. He had business with a man named Publius, and with his father, and with the entire island. The gospel does not advance in spite of our trials; it very often advances because of them. God had shipwrecked His kingdom on the shores of a pagan island, and what looked like a disaster was in fact a beachhead for an invasion of grace. This passage shows us the beautiful interplay of Christian hospitality, apostolic power, and God's practical provision. It is a microcosm of how the kingdom of God always works: it shows up in weakness, demonstrates its power, and receives the grateful honor of those it has blessed.
The Text
Now in the areas around that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. And it happened that the father of Publius was lying afflicted with fever and dysentery; and Paul, going to see him and having prayed, laid his hands on him and healed him. And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being healed. They also bestowed on us many honors of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.
(Acts 28:7-10 LSB)
Conquering Hospitality (v. 7)
The first thing we see is the response of the island's leader to these shipwrecked strangers.
"Now in the areas around that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days." (Acts 28:7)
Here is a pagan official, the "leading man" or protos of the island, likely the chief Roman authority. He sees a motley crew of 276 soldiers, sailors, and prisoners wash up on his beach. He has no idea who they are, but he sees their need. And instead of treating them with suspicion, he welcomes them and provides for them for three days. This is a remarkable display of basic human decency and the pagan virtue of hospitality. Publius is acting in accordance with the light he has. He is not a Christian, but he is being courteous, or as the Greek says, philophronos, with a friendly mind.
But Christian hospitality is something more than this. Christian hospitality is not just about being nice; it is a weapon of spiritual warfare. It is how we conquer. When we welcome people into our homes, we are not just giving them a meal; we are bringing them onto the turf of our covenant God. We are extending the borders of Christ's kingdom. Publius thinks he is simply being a good host to Paul. In reality, God is hosting Publius, preparing to give him a gift far greater than three days of food and lodging. This pagan man, in his kindness, opened his door to the gospel. We should never underestimate what God can do when we simply open our doors. Hospitality is evangelism with furniture.
Notice also the corporate nature of this. Publius welcomed "us." This wasn't just Paul, but Luke and the other believers, and likely the whole shipwrecked company. This was a significant act of generosity. And it sets the stage for God to be even more generous in return. God will not be in any man's debt.
Apostolic Power (v. 8)
The courtesy of Publius is now met with the power of God through His apostle, Paul.
"And it happened that the father of Publius was lying afflicted with fever and dysentery; and Paul, going to see him and having prayed, laid his hands on him and healed him." (Acts 28:8 LSB)
It "happened" that the father of Publius was sick. In the vocabulary of a sovereign God, there are no coincidences. This was not a random affliction; it was a divine appointment. The man's illness was the very reason God had steered the storm to this particular island. God's providence is that specific. He governs the weather patterns of the Mediterranean and the bacterial infections in an old man's gut for the same purpose: the advancement of His kingdom.
Paul hears of the illness and he goes in. He doesn't wait for an invitation. He sees a need and moves toward it. And what does he do? He prays, and then he lays his hands on the man and heals him. This is a raw display of apostolic authority. In the New Testament, there is a distinction between the miraculous gift of healing, which was a sign that accompanied the apostles to authenticate their message (2 Cor. 12:12), and the ordinary practice of praying for the sick, which is the duty of all believers, particularly elders (James 5:14). What Paul does here is the former. This is a sign-gift. The power is flowing through him as an accredited representative of the risen Christ. This is not something he asks God to do from a distance; this is an ambassador exercising the authority of his King.
We must be clear here. I do not believe there are men with the gift of healing like this today, because we do not have apostles today. The foundation of the church has been laid. But this does not mean God no longer heals. He absolutely does. We are commanded to pray for the sick, and God, in His sovereign goodness, often answers those prayers and restores people to health. But when He does, the power comes from Him in heaven in answer to our prayer, not through our hands as a vested authority. Paul's miracle here was a signpost, pointing away from himself and to the Christ he preached. It was the great credential that authenticated his message.
Gospel Contagion (v. 9)
The result of this healing is exactly what you would expect. Good news travels fast, especially this kind of good news.
"And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being healed." (Acts 28:9 LSB)
The healing of one prominent man becomes the catalyst for a much wider ministry. Word gets out. There is a man on the island who can cure the incurable. And so they came. This is a beautiful picture of the magnetic power of the gospel when it is demonstrated, not just declared. Paul did not just bring a set of doctrines; he brought the power of the kingdom. And that power met the tangible, felt needs of the people.
This is a principle. When the church is healthy, when it is walking in the power of the Spirit, it becomes a center of healing for the whole community. This healing is primarily spiritual, the healing of souls from the disease of sin. But it overflows into every other area. A true revival will see marriages healed, addictions broken, relationships restored, and yes, even physical bodies strengthened. The gospel is holistic. It is for the whole man. The people of Malta came for physical healing, and we can be certain that Paul did not just touch their bodies without also preaching the good news to their souls. He healed their diseases as a sign pointing to the One who could forgive their sins.
Reciprocal Blessing (v. 10)
The chapter concludes with the islanders' response to this outpouring of divine grace. Their response is one of honor and practical provision.
"They also bestowed on us many honors of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed." (Acts 28:10 LSB)
The apostle sowed spiritual blessings, and he reaped material blessings in return. This is the biblical pattern. "The laborer is worthy of his wages" (1 Tim. 5:18). Paul had brought the incalculable wealth of the kingdom of heaven to this island, and in response, they honored him and his companions and loaded them down with supplies for the next leg of their journey.
This was not a payment. You cannot pay for a miracle. This was an act of grateful love. Their hearts were overflowing with thankfulness for what God had done for them through Paul, and that gratitude took tangible form. They gave "many honors," and then they "supplied... all we needed." This is the proper response to the grace of God. A man who has truly been touched by the gospel does not become stingy; he becomes generous. His hands, which were once clenched fists, open up. He recognizes that everything he has is a gift from God, and he delights to use it for the work of God's kingdom and the support of God's ministers.
The church has a responsibility to provide for those who minister the Word. It is not an optional extra. It is a matter of basic justice and cheerful reciprocity. These Maltese pagans understood this principle better than many Christians do today. They were blessed, and so they became a blessing. This is the rhythm of the Christian life. God's grace is not a dead-end street. It is a river that flows into us so that it might flow through us to others.
Conclusion: Your Malta
This brief episode on a forgotten island is a pattern for us. God governs our lives with the same meticulous care that He governed Paul's journey. Your personal shipwrecks, your trials, your unexpected detours, are not accidents. They are appointments. God has run you aground in your particular circumstances because He has work for you to do right there. He has a Publius for you to meet, a sick father for you to pray for, a community for you to bless.
The question is whether you will see it. Will you see your troubles as a divine deployment? Will you practice a conquering hospitality, opening your life to the people God has put in your path? Will you pray with confidence, knowing that the same God who healed on Malta still hears and answers the prayers of His people today? And will you live with an open-handed generosity, recognizing that all you have is a gift to be stewarded for the kingdom?
God shipwrecked Paul to save an island. What might He do through the apparent disasters in your life, if you would only see them as He does? He is the God who brings healing out of sickness, provision out of poverty, and a great harvest out of a shipwreck. Trust Him in the storm, trust Him on the beach, and watch what He will do.