The beloved physician Luke wrote how he, Paul, and others with him were sailing toward Rome, “and they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land. And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse two of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the barbarous people showed us no little kindness” where we read:
And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
The verse begins, “And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness:” Luke began with the words, “and the barbarous people” which means “and the rough, harsh, foreign and ignorant human beings both male and female” “showed us no little kindness” or “afforded, exhibited and rendered to us, Luke, Paul and the others who swam and floated upon their seashore, not a small amount of benevolence, love and fondness”. Luke shared how the indigenous people upon the island of “Melita” were very caring and kind toward him, Paul and the others who were rescued from the ship.
The verse continues, “for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.” Luke added the words, “for they kindled a fire” which means “because, since and on account that the barbarous people on the island of Melita lit a burning fire”, “and received us every one” or “and accepted each, every, the whole and everyone of us, Luke, Paul and the others who were rescued on the ship”, “because of the present rain” which means “since and on account of the standing rain from the sky that was at hand”, “and because of the cold” or “and since and on account of the coolness or frigid outdoor temperature”. Luke shared how the “barbarous people” on the island of “Melita” lit a burning fire and accepted every one of the men who were saved from the ship because it continued raining and the outdoor temperature was frigid.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “rough and harsh” people who lived on the island of “Melita” cared for the men from the ship who were safe upon their seashore. And because it was raining and cold they lit a “fire” and accepted all of them. This physical demonstration of “kindness” was needed by the men who were rescued from the sinking ship, and it shall be used by the Lord to share His gospel with them through “Paul” in our next few verses. God loves people, and even when they are deemed as “barbarous, rough, harsh or otherwise”, He invites them to receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Acts of kindness from these island people led them to be ministered to by the Lord, and anyone who surrenders to Jesus and becomes kind to others are candidates to know Jesus Christ who is the Son of God and “Savior of the whole world”.
Next time Luke shares about Paul and how, “there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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