Evening star., 1921-12-03
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON


Paurs progress toward Rome was
halted for a period Of three months
as a result Of the shipwreck, that was
studied In connection with last weeks
lesson. When they all escaped in
safety to land from the wreck they
found themselves in Melita. now
known as Malta. Although Like re-
fers to the natives as barbarians, they
could not be SO classed in the modern
use Of the word, for they treated the
stranded. shipwrecked sufferers with
lighted fires SO that all might dry
their clothes and remove the chill Of
the bleak autumn day. They were
barbarians to the sailors because they
did not speak the Grecian or Latin
languages. They opened their homes
wrecked strangers. This must have
taxed their hospitality, for they did
not have any hotel accommodations.
Possibly their humanity was due
to the influence of Paul, who, al
though he was probably suffering
from exhaustion, due to his effort to
get everybody safe to shore, COM
menced with his characteristic en-
ergy nd unselfish spirit to assist in
collecting fuel for the fire. Accord
ing to Farrar, they had to depend
upon furze roots for firewood. This
plant "is a kind of cross between a
bush and cactus, and is covered with
spines and with such thick and twist
ing branches as one could almost sit
on it were it not for the extreme dis
comfort which sitting on it would
occasion" After Paul had placed the
bundle of roots which he had COL
lected upon the fire. a half-frozen
L. \ L,
heat suddenly darted from the fire
and fastened itself upon the apostles
hand. When the sharp-eyed. super
stitious natives observed the wiper"
hanging from his hand they looked
for him to die quickly. They knew
that the reptile was hanging to the
apostles hand. because its poisonous
fsngs were bedded in his hand. They
might not have, understood how the
virulence of the poison worked when
it came in contact with human blood,
yet their experience had taught them
to expect an almost immediate and
agonizing death.
because he was a murderer whom God
was punishing, who deserved to die.
They believed that his expected death
was due to his misdeeds. They had a
conception, which lies at the founda-
tion of all natural religion, that there
exists a connection between wrong
doing and retribution, SO that none
can escape the result of their sin.
Imagine their surprise when Paul
shook the viper off into the fire.
Ramsay claims that this action
shows that the snake was a con-
strictor and not Gas Luke calls it a
viper. which darts and strikes but
does not cling. There is found in
cnaciaS nf the CON G ri in
scientific classification either Coro-
nella Austriaca or Leopardinus Cob
servers differ as to the exact specieS),
which is in appearance SO like a
viper as to deceive even skilled nat
uralist unless he examines it closely.
and the action of this species would
be exactly like what Luke describes
When he did not die. as they ex-
pected, then they commenced to con-
slider Paul, although he was in chains.
as god. 1t was this that probably
caused Publius Lentulus, the gov
ernor. or first citizen, of the island. 70
extend the hospitality of his home to
the apostle and his companions. This
courtesy could not have been eA-
tended without the approval of the
centurion, who had come to appre-
ciate since they left Ceasare, some
thing of the apostles worth and
work.
This unusual honor bestowed upon
the Roman prisoner and his party did
not go unrewarded. The governors
father was i'll with fever and dysen-
terry, diseases which are still common
In Malta according to the reports OF
their physician, SO Paul presented his
case to the source of all healing-in
prayer. The hand that had been bit
ten by the viper was a good one TO
lay upon the sick. The cure that
followed was due to the healing
power of God. The Great Physician
Is still the source of all healing. I'm
der the influence of His teachings
physicians and surgeons have been
educated, nurses trained, Laboratories
for scientiffcs research established
hospitals founded, methods of dag
nosis and treatment discovered, and
yet without His power they are all
helpless. The news of this cure
spread rapidly, and during their three
months sojourn both Paul and Luke
had many calls for medical assist
ance. which gave them many oppor-
tunities to preach the gospel. Mod
ern missionary work owes much OF
its success to the work of the medi-
cal missionaries whose healing minis
try has opened up an entrance for
the word of life. The generous gifts
of the people showed their apprecla-
ton when they departed.
With the opening of the navigation
season, julius impressed into the gov
ernmental service an AleXandr1an
shin that had wintered in the harbor
of the island and embarked with his
OTHER SERVICES.