The document summarizes a passage from Acts 28 about the apostle Paul being shipwrecked on the island of Malta after a storm. It describes how the islanders showed Paul and his fellow travelers kindness, but a viper bit Paul's hand, which did not harm him. This led the islanders to believe Paul was a god. Paul then healed the father of the Roman governor Publius, and many other islanders who were sick. The islanders honored Paul before he departed, and he used the opportunity to spread the gospel while shipwrecked.

1. Stone
Creek
You are
welcome
www.rossvillechurch.com
781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741
March 27, 2013
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2. Acts 28
Paul is being taken to Rome
as a prisoner.
A Euroclydon took them off
course and they are
shipwreck on an island.
Right where God wants
Paul to be right now.
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3. Acts 28 1 And when they
were escaped, then they
knew that the island was
called Melita (Malta).
2 And the barbarous people
shewed us no little kind-
ness: for they kindled a Sicily
fire, and received us every
one, because of the
present rain, and because
of the cold.
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4. Life Application Bible Maps
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5. In two weeks the storm had carried them 600 miles
west of Fair Havens, Crete. The islanders translates
hoi barbaroi (lit., “the barbarians”), a Greek term
used to refer to non-Greek-speaking people. This
does not mean the people were savages or uncul-
tured, but that their civilization was not Greek-
oriented.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
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6. 3 And when Paul
had gathered a
bundle of sticks,
and laid them on
the fire, there came
a viper out of the
heat, and fastened
on his hand.
I like that Paul was gathering firewood.
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7. It was cold weather in November; the
snake would have been much like a stick
until the fire warmed it up.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous
beast hang on his hand, they said among
themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer,
whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet
vengeance suffereth not to live.
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8. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt
no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should
have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but
after they had looked a great while, and saw no
harm come to him, they changed their minds, and
said that he was a god.
Paul would not have allowed them to think of
him as a god, but would have been adamant
that he was a man just like them.
Acts 14:8-18
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9. (TLB) 7 Near the shore where we landed was an
estate belonging to Publius, the governor of the
island. He welcomed us courteously and fed us for
three days.
Romans 12 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honor preferring one
another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in
spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to
hospitality.
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10. 8 And it came to pass, that
the father of Publius lay sick
of a fever and of a bloody
flux: to whom Paul entered
in, and prayed, and laid his
hands on him, and healed
him.
God healed him.
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11. 9 Sowhen this was done, others also, which had
diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honored us with many honors; and
when we departed, they laded us with such things
as were necessary.
Hand of God Purpose
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12. The storm which blew them 600 miles was guided
by God’s Hand to His Place for His Plan.
There were many souls on Malta who had
never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul was God’s Voice to them.
Let us be used by God to tell
people the Good News.
Watch for Opportunities.
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