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Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. Acts 28:1-2
Paul was a prisoner aboard a ship bound for Rome, and he was destined to stand trial before Caesar. But while they were sailing across the Mediterranean Sea, a storm arose with winds of hurricane force (Acts 27:14). The vessel was driven by the fierce winds for many days. After it ran aground and all the passengers made it safely to shore, they discovered that they had landed on an island called Malta.
Malta was inhabited by heathens. Some translations, such as the KJV, translate the word islanders as “barbarous people”—probably because they didn’t embrace the Greek or Roman culture, though they were ruled by Rome. Either way, they were different than the shipload of people who had crashed on their island, but their first response was unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed everyone.
Your church may already exhibit this type of kindness to outsiders and strangers. If so, jump into the action. Find a way to help those in need. Maybe you could become an usher, or start an English as a second language (ESL) program there. If your church is lacking in this type of kindness to outsiders and strangers, talk to the leadership about finding ways to change that.
Paul was a prisoner aboard a ship bound for Rome, and he was destined to stand trial before Caesar. But while they were sailing across the Mediterranean Sea, a storm arose with winds of hurricane force (Acts 27:14). The vessel was driven by the fierce winds for many days. After it ran aground and all the passengers made it safely to shore, they discovered that they had landed on an island called Malta.
Malta was inhabited by heathens. Some translations, such as the KJV, translate the word islanders as “barbarous people”—probably because they didn’t embrace the Greek or Roman culture, though they were ruled by Rome. Either way, they were different than the shipload of people who had crashed on their island, but their first response was unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed everyone.
Your church may already exhibit this type of kindness to outsiders and strangers. If so, jump into the action. Find a way to help those in need. Maybe you could become an usher, or start an English as a second language (ESL) program there. If your church is lacking in this type of kindness to outsiders and strangers, talk to the leadership about finding ways to change that.
