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Observe here, How God goes on still to honour the person and ministry of St. Paul, in the eyes and hearts of this barbarous people, by enabling him further to work miracles in this island.
First, on Publius, the governor's father, and then on others that were diseased in the island.
Here note, 1. How great the civility of the governor of the island was towards St. Paul, entertaining him and all the company with him, even more than two hundred persons, at his own charge.
And, 2. How well the governor was rewarded for his hospitable charity; his father lying sick of a fever and bloody flux, is miraculously recovered by God. As there is no duty more certainly rewarded in another world than that of charity, so is it frequently rewarded in this world. Publius was well paid by his father's recovery, for what he did for St. Paul and his company.
Note, 3. The means which the apostle used for the recovery of this sick person: prayer and imposition of hands, Paul prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. Act_28:8
Now, hereby the apostle showed that he could do nothing of himself; accordingly he applies by prayer to that God who killeth and maketh alive, and the Lord heard him. St. Paul had honoured God, and now God honours him. How grieved was the holy apostle when God's honour was sacrilegiously given to him! I doubt not but it grieved the good man more when they called him a god, than when they accounted him a murderer; here therefore he returns the honour to God by prayer, ascribing all to him; and God honours him by making him the instrument of the miraculous cure.
Note, 4. How the infinitely wise God made all things work together for his own glory: that the apostle should suffer shipwreck; that he should be cast upon an island; that he should be cast upon a barbarous island, where the name of God was not known; that a viper should fasten upon him, and not hurt him; that the governor of the island's father, and other inhabitants of the island, should at this time be sick, and miraculously cured by St. Paul.
All these tender towards the promoting of God's glory, by opening an effectual door for the conversion of many souls; for during three months that the apostle stayed there, he planted a Christian church in the island, which became famous for its steadfastness in the truth.
Note, 5. The proof and evidence which the islanders gave of the truth of their conversion by the apostle's ministry among them; namely, that those new converts loaded St. Paul's ship with necessaries for their voyage when he went away from them. This was a real fruit of their effectual faith, as also their honouring him with many honours. The best evidence of sincere faith, is a holy fruitfulness in good works, in works of piety towards God, and works of charity towards man: They honoured us with many honours, and when we departed they laded us with such things as were necessary.