1When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.
Safe, but wet and cold, the whole lot were in great need. God shows Himself to be good, not only through Paul’s intervention on the ship but also through the locals’ provisions on shore. The NASB translates the word as “natives;” the underlying word is barbaroi, from which we get our word “barbarians.” Commentators tell us this probably means they were not Greek speakers and were possibly somewhat uncivilized. But they did not lack the highly regarded grace of showing kindness, which Luke describes as “extraordinary.” They built a fire for the survivors and extended hospitality to them.
Can we not see God’s hand in all this, not just to Paul and Luke, but to all the passengers, including military and prisoners? We are reminded of what Scripture says:
The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. (Ps. 145:9)
… He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt. 5:45)
As for Paul, his instructions at various junctures in the trip, even up to the end, made for their rescue from certain death. A lesser person would not have been concerned to save his captors. Yet Paul was exemplifying what Jesus taught in Luke’s other book, the Gospel according to Luke:
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” (Luke 6:35)
The apostle Peter would have heartily agreed with Paul’s attitude and actions:
[I]f when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously . . . (1 Peter 2:20b–23)
Paul entrusted himself to God, just as the Lord Jesus did; and his captors and everyone else shared in the benefits of the Lord’s kindness.
Lord, help me to show kindness to the “enemy” who has just come to my mind.
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