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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Acts 28:1 - 28:1
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After a long and dangerous voyage, recorded in the foregoing chapter, the providence of God brought St. Paul and the rest of the prisoners to an island called Melita, where they were courteously received by the islanders; who finding them wet and cold, made them a fire to warm and refresh them: when, behold, a viper that was in the wood, feeling the heat of the fire, leaped out upon St. Paul, and fastened on his hand: which the islanders seeing, instantly concluded that the apostle was some notorious malefactor, whom divine vengeance followed: but the apostle, (according to our Saviour's promise, If ye touch any deadly thing it shall not hurt you, Mar_16:18) shaking off the venomous beast into the fire, without harm, the people presently changed their opinion, and took him for a god, that was come to them in the shape of a man.
Here note, 1. How it pleased God by a new miracle to confirm the apostle's authority, and thereby to prepare the hearts of those barbarous people for the receiving of the gospel. God will honour his gospel, and the faithful dispensers of it, wherever they go, by preparing the hearts of the people to receive and entertain it.
Note, 2. That great and manifold dangers and distresses may, and oft-times do, befal gracious persons. No sooner is one affliction passed over and gone from them, but presently another comes on with a fresh assault.
Thus here, St. Paul had no sooner escaped the shipwreck, and gets to shore, but a viper fastens upon his hand: Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Observe, 3. That the very light of nature suggests, even to the most barbarous heathens, that wickedness shall not go unpunished; No doubt this man is a murderer, whom vengeance suffereth not to live.
Note, 4. That natural agents cannot act or exert their natural powers, without the concourse and concurrence of supernatural providence: this viper, according to its nature, did not, and could not, sting the apostle, being restrained by the overruling providence and power of God.
Note, 5. That the humanity of these barbarous heathens towards those that suffered shipwreck, may justly condemn the inhumanity of them that are called Christians, towards those that are shipwrecked: How do some that live near the sea-coast rejoice in a wreck at sea, in hopes of enriching themselves with the spoils of others! The barbarous were humane here, but the humane are now barbarous.
Note, 6. How prone and ready men are to draw sinful inferences from sorrowful premises; to conclude, that such a man, or such a people, are wicked, because they are wretched; great sinners, because great sufferers. This was the barbarous logic of these islanders. It had been well that it had been confined to that island: When the barbarians saw the venomous beast on the apostle's hand, they said, No doubt this man is a murderer.
Note, 7. How mutable is the mind of man, and how inconstant are men in their esteem, and opinions of men: the apostle had no sooner shook off the viper into the fire, but the barbarians change their opinions into another extreme; he whom they accounted a murderer before, they called a god now: They changed their minds, and said that he was a god. They are light and lavish in their applauding, as before they were rash and severe in censuring.
Thus, upon changes of providence, many change their opinions of men, sometimes for the better, but commonly for the worse. Lord! help me to esteem myself only by the esteem which I have with thee. Let me never be lifted up with the applaudings, not cast down by the despisings, of men; neither praise nor reproach are much to be accounted of, whilst we are innocent, and make thee our friend.
Question. But why did not St. Paul, that shook off the viper from his hand, shake off the chain from his arm, and set himself at liberty?
Answer. St. Paul was not the author, but a minister or instrument in this miracle, God wrought special miracles by the hand of Paul. Act_19:12
Now, when the deliverance of the apostle from his bonds made most for the glory of God, he was delivered; but, when his bonds would more advance the gospel, God kept him in bonds.