Acts 28:1–10 Paul on Malta
Quick Summary
Acts 28:1–10 describes Paul's three-month stay on Malta after the shipwreck. The islanders show unusual kindness to the survivors. When Paul is bitten by a viper while gathering firewood, the locals expect him to die, interpreting it as divine justice. When Paul suffers no harm, they change their minds and declare him a god. Paul then heals Publius's father and many others on the island. The Maltese honor Paul and his companions and provide supplies when they depart. The passage shows God's continued protection of Paul, the power of miraculous signs, and how the gospel reaches even an obscure island through unexpected circumstances.
Introduction
The shipwreck survivors reach land safely, just as Paul prophesied. They discover they are on Malta, a small island south of Sicily in the central Mediterranean.
What follows is a brief but significant interlude. Paul will spend three months on Malta waiting for sailing season to resume. During this time, he experiences God's protection through a snakebite, performs healing miracles, and receives honor from the islanders.
Luke presents Malta as another example of how the gospel advances through crisis. The storm that threatened to kill everyone becomes the means by which Paul's ministry reaches this island. God's purposes prevail even through disaster.
The Maltese response to Paul mirrors broader patterns in Acts. They misinterpret his survival as divine status, but Paul uses the opportunity to demonstrate God's power through healing. The gospel moves forward, not through Paul's planning, but through providence and miraculous signs.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of Acts 28:1–10 and Commentary
Acts 28:1
"After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta."
The survivors reach shore and discover they are on Malta. The name means "refuge" or "harbor," which is fitting given their circumstances.
Malta is about sixty miles south of Sicily. It was a small island, not politically significant, but strategically located along Mediterranean shipping routes.
Luke notes they learned the island's name after arriving. This suggests the crew did not know where the storm had driven them. For two weeks, they had been lost at sea. Only now do they discover their location.
Acts 28:2
"The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it."
The Maltese people—Luke calls them "natives" or "barbarians," meaning they did not speak Greek—show extraordinary kindness. This is not mere hospitality. It is active compassion for 276 desperate, soaked, cold survivors.
They build a fire and welcome everyone. The rain and cold make this essential for survival. Hypothermia is a real danger.
Luke emphasizes the kindness as "unusual." This reflects positively on the Maltese. They are pagans who do not know the God of Israel, yet they embody the compassion believers should show.
Acts 28:3
"Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand."
Paul helps gather firewood. He does not stand aside as a dignitary. He works alongside the others.
As Paul places wood on the fire, a viper strikes. The snake, dormant in the cold, is revived by the heat and bites Paul's hand.
Luke uses the word ἔχιδνα (echidna), referring to a venomous snake. The bite is serious. Viper venom can be fatal.
Acts 28:4
"When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, 'This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.'"
The Maltese interpret the snakebite as divine judgment. Paul survived the sea, but Justice—personified as a deity—has pursued him.
Their reasoning reflects ancient belief in cosmic justice. Murderers cannot escape. Even if human courts fail, the gods will ensure punishment.
They assume Paul is guilty of some great crime. Why else would he suffer this fate immediately after surviving the shipwreck?
Acts 28:5
"He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm."
Paul shakes the snake into the fire. He is unharmed.
This fulfills Jesus' promise in Mark 16:18: "They will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them." Paul's survival demonstrates God's protection.
The lack of harm is immediate and obvious. There is no swelling, no pain, no collapse. Paul continues as if nothing happened.
Acts 28:6
"They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god."
The Maltese watch Paul carefully, expecting him to die. Viper bites typically cause swelling, pain, and sometimes death. But Paul shows no symptoms.
After waiting "a long time," they change their interpretation. If he is not a guilty man suffering justice, he must be a god. This is the only explanation they can imagine.
This mirrors earlier scenes in Acts. In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas were called gods after a healing miracle (Acts 14:11-12). Here again, pagans misinterpret apostolic miracles as evidence of divinity.
Luke does not record Paul correcting them explicitly, though he likely did. The focus is on God's protection and the opportunity it creates for ministry.
Acts 28:7
"Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days."
Publius is identified as "the leading man of the island." This likely means he held official Roman authority, possibly as the chief magistrate or governor.
He welcomes Paul and his companions—Luke's "us" suggests the Christian travelers stay with Publius, while the sailors and soldiers may have been housed elsewhere.
Publius provides hospitality for three days. This is significant generosity, given the number of guests and the disruption to his household.
Acts 28:8
"It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him."
Publius's father is seriously ill. Fever and dysentery—likely a gastrointestinal infection—can be deadly, especially for the elderly.
Paul visits the sick man. He prays and lays hands on him. The healing is immediate and complete.
This is not medical treatment. It is miraculous intervention. Paul acts as an instrument of God's healing power.
Acts 28:9
"After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured."
Word spreads. Others come seeking healing. Luke does not specify how many or what diseases, but the language suggests widespread healing.
This pattern echoes Jesus' ministry and earlier episodes in Acts. Healing attracts crowds and authenticates the message. The miracles are not ends in themselves but signs pointing to God's power and the truth of the gospel.
Acts 28:10
"They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed."
The Maltese honor Paul and his companions. The word "honors" (τιμαῖς, timais) can refer to both respect and material gifts. Likely it includes both.
When Paul prepares to leave after three months, the islanders provide supplies for the journey. This is gratitude for the healings and recognition of Paul's significance.
Luke presents this as divine provision. God ensures Paul reaches Rome with everything he needs. Even on a remote island, God's people are cared for.
Acts 28:1–10 Meaning for Today
Acts 28:1–10 offers important lessons about God's providence, the power of witness, and faithful service.
First, God's protection is real and visible. Paul survived a snakebite that should have killed him. This was not luck or natural immunity. It was divine preservation. Believers today can trust that God protects his people for the work he has called them to do.
Second, suffering does not always indicate guilt. The Maltese assumed Paul's snakebite was punishment for sin. They were wrong. The church should reject simplistic explanations that link all suffering to personal guilt. Sometimes suffering is simply part of living in a fallen world or advancing the gospel.
Third, people interpret events through their worldview. The Maltese shifted from "he's a murderer" to "he's a god" because those were their only categories. Christians should recognize that unbelievers will often misinterpret God's work through cultural or religious assumptions. This creates opportunities for explanation and witness.
Fourth, miracles authenticate the gospel and create openings for ministry. Paul's healings on Malta opened doors that would have remained closed otherwise. While the church should not seek signs for their own sake, believers should recognize that God still uses supernatural intervention to draw people to himself.
Fifth, faithful service includes mundane tasks. Paul gathered firewood. He did not consider himself above physical labor. Christians should serve humbly in practical ways, not just in "spiritual" activities.
Sixth, hospitality matters. The Maltese welcomed strangers in need. Publius hosted Paul for three days. The church should be known for similar generosity, providing for those in need without expecting repayment.
Finally, God's purposes advance through unexpected circumstances. The shipwreck was a disaster, yet it brought Paul to Malta where he ministered for three months. The church should trust that God can use even calamities to accomplish his will.
Acts 28:1–10 shows Paul continuing his mission even while stranded on a remote island. God's providence ensures that wherever Paul goes, opportunities for witness and healing emerge.
Works Consulted
Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts. Revised edition. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary. Vol. 4, 24:1–28:31. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.
Witherington, Ben, III. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
Bock, Darrell L. Acts. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Acts of the Apostles. Anchor Bible 31. New York: Doubleday, 1998.
Marshall, I. Howard. Acts. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980.
New Revised Standard Version Bible.
