After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
In the above passage we have the opening phrase, “After we were brought safely through ...”. The context of that statement stems from chapter 27. Paul and 277 other people were on a ship that was destroyed by a northeaster storm and driven ashore on this island, Malta. Malta is an island off southwest of Italy. Paul was being taken to Rome to stand trial for the accusations made by the Jewish religious leaders of the day. The drama of the ship breaking apart is quite visual in chapter 27. In most cases we would not expect that all 278 passengers would have made it. God came to Paul (and the others) rescue, however. Note what Paul tells them about the ship wreck:
Acts 27:21-26 (ESV)
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”
God sent Paul encouragement and a revelation that he and them would be safe. He brought them “through” the boat crash, but not out of it.
But, they survived the boat being destroyed only to land on the island in the rain and cold. Yet, even there, God sends them what they need. The native people showed them “unusual” kindness. These island people created a party for them and treated them graciously. This is a God thing. Remember, this was a prison ship. Of the 278 passengers, many were prisoners going to Rome to be tried. Yet, God not only protected them He provided people who did not even know them who had grace in their hearts. God takes us through ship wrecks and through cold rainy storms by providing someone to love us.
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