Lessons about healing from Acts – Part Two

The healing of the sick on the island of Malta

Last time:

There are many references to healing in the Book of Acts.

General references include:

• the disciples’ prayer that God would stretch out his hand to heal (4:30)
• the statement that on one occasion all the sick were healed as Peter’s shadow passed over them (5:14-16)
• a description of Philip’s evangelistic ministry in Samaria (8:5-8)
• and the mention of extraordinary miracles of healing as a result of people touching handkerchiefs and aprons taken from Paul (19:11-12).

Specific miracles of healing described in Acts include:

• The healing of the cripple at the gate of the Temple (3:7-9)
• The healing of Aeneas and the raising of Dorcas (9:33-42)
• The healing of the cripple at Lystra (14:8-10)
• The raising of Eutychus from the dead (20:9-12)
• Paul’s deliverance from snake-bite, the healing of Publius’ father, and of the sick of the island of Malta (28:1-10).

We noted that:

• It was not just apostles who performed miracles (e.g. 6:8, 8:6-8)
• Most of the healings recorded took place in an evangelistic context (or resulted in many turning to the Lord)
• Some healings were extraordinary (e.g. 5:14-16, 19:11-12)
• Healings were not the only signs which led to the conversion of many (e.g. the miracle of tongues on the Day of Pentecost).

 

 

 

The main lessons that we can learn from the miracle in Acts 3

• No situation is too difficult for God.
• It is not always the person in need who is expected to exercise faith. We can move in faith ourselves as we seek to minister to people, but to do so we need to be submitted to God’s authority and led by his Spirit.
• In this connection it is important that we learn to hear what God is saying.
• We can only command healing in the name of Jesus when we are sure we have heard from God and are acting under his authority.
• It is important to distinguish between praying for the sick and commanding their healing. We can and should always pray for the sick, but we can only command healing when we have heard directly from God on the matter.
• God works miracles through us in order to confirm the message of the gospel.

The healing of the sick on the island of Malta        Acts 28:1-10

1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.  2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

The events described take place after the ship, on which Paul is travelling as a prisoner on his way to Rome, has been wrecked.

Thanks to God’s mercy, all have managed to reach the shore safely.

Because of the cold and rain, the islanders kindly light a fire and, as Paul goes to put wood on the fire, a poisonous snake bites his hand (v. 3).

But Paul shakes it off into the fire and suffers no ill effects (v. 5).

This miracle, which is clearly comparable with the promise of Jesus in Mark 16:18, causes great amazement among the islanders who decide that Paul must be a god.

Although this is not stated here, we must assume that Paul would have quickly corrected this misunderstanding, just as he did in Acts 14 when he and Barnabas were thought to be gods after healing the cripple at Lystra (Acts 14:8-18).

We are then told that Publius, the chief official of the island, welcomed them into his home where they stayed for three days.

His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery (v. 8).

The description of the order of events following this is noteworthy.

(1) Paul went in to see him

(2) he prayed

(3) he placed his hands on him

(4) he healed him.

(5) As a result, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.

This healing is noticeably different from the miracle performed by Peter on the cripple at the gate of the temple.

The phrase after prayer (v. 8) is significant here. In Acts 3 we do not read that Peter prayed for the cripple. Rather, he commands his healing – In the name of Jesus… walk!

Similarly, Paul in Acts 14:8-10 commands the healing of the cripple at Lystra – Stand up on your feet. But here in Acts 28 he prays before laying hands on the man who is ill.

This need not mean that he prayed for him, as we are told that after prayer he placed his hands on him and healed him.

The suggestion may well be, therefore, that in praying Paul was looking for guidance in the matter.

If this interpretation is correct, there is an important lesson to be learned from Paul’s actions here. If we do not already have clear revelation concerning the healing of a sick person (as did Peter in Acts 3 and Paul in Acts 14) it is important to pray for guidance before seeking to minister healing.

As a result of this healing, the rest of the sick of the island came and were cured (v. 9).

The islanders of Malta, therefore, had witnessed some amazing miracles at the hands of Paul – his deliverance from snake-bite, the healing of Publius’s father, and the healing of the rest of the sick.

Yet despite this, surprisingly there is no direct reference to the conversion of the islanders, although it might be argued that their coming for healing was, in itself, an indication of their faith

But there is one further issue to be considered before we leave Acts 28.

It is noteworthy that Luke, who was the author of Acts, was present with Paul at this time.

This is evident from the various uses of we and us in this passage (e.g. vv.1, 2, 7, 10).

Now we know that Luke was a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and it has been suggested that verse 9 implies that Luke used his medical skills in curing the sick on Malta.

This view is based on the words They honoured us… (v.10).

Surely, it is argued, Luke must have done some healing if he was honoured along with Paul.

 

BUT

1. There is no statement in Acts 28 that Luke used his medical ability in Malta.
2. It is by no means impossible that Luke as well as Paul was charismatically gifted in the realm of healing.
3. The bestowing of honours on both Luke and Paul does not imply that both were used in healing the sick. (Cf. Acts 14:8-12 where both Paul and Barnabas are honoured because of a healing performed by Paul).
4. The most natural way to interpret the passage is to understand the sick of the island coming to Paul for the laying on of hands (v.9) as a result of the healing of Publius’s father (v.8). However, the fact that Luke probably did not use his medical skills in Acts 28 does not mean that medical skill is not important. We’ll talk about this next time.

Conclusion

Our examination of healing in Acts has shown us that:

• Jesus’ disciples performed very similar miracles to those that Jesus performed
• There is every reason to believe that we can expect similar miracles (Mark 16:16-18 and John 14:12)
• No situation is too difficult for God. The impossible becomes possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• It’s not just apostles who perform miracles. Signs are promised to those who believe.
• It is not always the sick person who is expected to exercise faith. We can move in faith ourselves as we seek to minister to people, but to do so we need to be submitted to God’s authority and led by his Spirit.
• We need to hear what God is saying. We should only command healing in the name of Jesus when we are sure we have heard from God and know that we are acting under his authority.
• If we are unsure about this we should pray before seeking to minister to the sick.
• Most of the healings recorded resulted in many turning to the Lord. God works miracles through us in order to confirm the message of the gospel. It is in the context of evangelism that we can expect healings and other kinds of miracle to happen.

Testimony: Ruby’s healing

Details of this healing and other miracles I have experienced are recorded in my book ‘Signs from Heaven’ available via my website.