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We are still on the island of Malta so I thought it fitting that we look a little more closely at the Apostle Paul’s time here. We have talked about his shipwreck and how he came to arrive on the island of Melita, as it was called in the New Testament. You can read that first post here and the second here! Today, let us look at the “barbarians” who received them.
When I would read this passage years and years ago, I took it to mean that they were uncivilized savages! I pictured cannibals, native bush-people like we would have seen on National Geographic back-in-the-day. Yes, I know, I had a vivid imagination and not too much Biblical training. Bear with me.
Reading it in several different versions and digging deeper I see something entirely different. Let’s read:
“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.” Acts 28:1, 2 ESV.
The King James Version calls the native people barbarians. Matthew Henry, in his commentary, explains: “They are called barbarous people, because they did not, in language and customs, conform either to the Greeks or Romans, who looked (superciliously enough) upon all but themselves as barbarians, though otherwise civilized enough, and perhaps in some cases more civil than they. These barbarous people, however they were called so, were full of humanity: They showed us no little kindness.”
They didn’t carry voodoo dolls, didn’t eat people and were not crazy and inhuman. As Matthew Henry says, they were probably more civil than the cold, wet prisoners and crew who had washed up on their shore! They were full of humanity. The KJV says, “They showed us no little kindness.” In other words, they didn’t hold back, they gave of all they had to show mercy to complete strangers. And remember, most of them were criminals!
They had weathered the storm, Paul had convinced them they would ALL survive if they stayed in the ship. He had promised, “…for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” Acts 27:34. Paul and his cohorts needed safety, a place to rest, a place to dry out and a place to get warm.
And he was right. Everyone of them made it safely to shore by following the man of God who had heard the voice of God. They received all of these things at the hands of the Maltese people and much, much more. In return for their kindness and selflessness they received healing by the hand of Almighty God through Paul and salvation for their souls!
I am trying my best to listen with intent spiritual ears while here in Malta. This island and those surrounding it are being inundated with refugees from neighboring countries. They are making very risky, life-threatening trips to escape the danger of ISIS in the place that they call home. As you may have seen on the news, many hundreds have perished so far in the Mediterranean waters. We have seen lines of the migrants waiting to get aid and whatever paperwork they need to either stay here or move on to more permanent dwelling places.
But in our prayer group last night, I heard the Maltese people request prayer for the refugees. Their hearts were broken for those that they did not know, those who were born in other parts of the world. Souls that they have never met, and probably will never have opportunity to meet, but they realized the hurt, the frustration, the separation and tremendous sacrifice they were making to hopefully find a peaceable place to call home.
This is a very, very crowded island. It is approximately 17 miles in length and 8 1/2 miles wide, 196 square miles. It’s less than half the size of Monroe County, Indiana (I give that example because I can relate to that!) but the population is almost 500,000! It isn’t as if they have tons of countryside to house thousands and thousands that need refuge. Yet, they wouldn’t turn them away. These barbarians, these island natives, are still showing mercy today.
Unusual kindness.
Hospitality: “The quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.” In the New Testament, the Greek word translated hospitality literally means love of strangers. This word for unusual kindness is even commanded throughout the Word of God. In the Old Testament specifically, “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33-34, emphasis added).
Jesus and His disciples depended on the kindness of strangers in their travels and we are encouraged to be hospitable in several areas of scripture throughout the New Testament. (Titus 1:8, 1 Timothy 3:2, Hebrews 13:2, Ephesians 2:10.)
Are we prepared to show kindness, extend MERCY to strangers? Would we go out of our way for a complete stranger in need? Could we stop and pause today and realize that it could be you or me that is desperate for even a morsel of bread, a drink of clean water or a change of clothes? Yes, friends, it could be us.
I pray I will be willing to show Unusual Kindness to another. To bless others as I have been blessed and not to be stingy with what God has given me. I might just meet another Apostle Paul along the way…
Enjoy some pictures from Malta and the nearby island of Gozo which we visited this week. The Lord thought this small island paradise important enough to send the most famous preacher in Christianity here to bless this people. Let us learn from their Unusual Kindness today!
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