How does Acts 28:5 demonstrate God's protection over His faithful servants? Setting the Scene on Malta Paul and his companions, shipwrecked but alive, find themselves on Malta. The islanders build a fire to warm their drenched visitors. While gathering sticks, Paul inadvertently picks up a venomous viper. “Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.” (Acts 28:3) The Striking Moment of Protection “But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.” (Acts 28:5) What God’s Protection Looks Like • Instant deliverance—No swelling, no fever, no lingering weakness. • Effortless trust—Paul simply “shook the creature off,” confident of God’s promise. • Visible testimony—The amazed islanders move from thinking Paul is cursed (v. 4) to seeing the hand of God (v. 6). Timeless Principles Revealed • God preserves His servants until their mission is complete (Acts 23:11; 2 Timothy 4:17). • Physical threats bow to divine purpose (Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19). • Protection is not always spectacular, yet it is always certain for those walking in obedience (Psalm 121:7-8). Echoes of Protection Across Scripture • Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:22): mouths shut, purpose untouched. • Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego in the furnace (Daniel 3:27): not even the smell of smoke. • Elijah fed during famine (1 Kings 17:6): provision in impossible settings. • Peter released from prison (Acts 12:7-10): chains fall, doors open. Living the Truth Today • Anchor confidence in God’s unchanging faithfulness. • Stay on mission; safety resides in obedience more than in favorable circumstances. • Let every rescue become a platform to point observers to Christ. |
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