The hearts of this people have become insensitive, And with their ears they hardly hear

Acts 28 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. ² The natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold. ³ But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶ Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

⁷ Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days. ⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹ After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured. ¹⁰ They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they supplied us with everything we needed.

¹¹ After three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. ¹² After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. ¹³ From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found some brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome. ¹⁵ And from there the brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the ^[l]Market of Appius and the Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶ When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷ After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. ¹⁸ And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there were no grounds for putting me to death. ¹⁹ But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” ²¹ They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. ²² But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for regarding this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³ When they had set a day for Paul, people came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. ²⁴ Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe. ²⁵ And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul said one parting statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, ²⁶ saying,

‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, and will not understand;
And you will keep on seeing, and will not perceive; ²⁷ For the hearts of this people have become insensitive, And with their ears they hardly hear,
And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’

²⁸ Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”

³⁰ Now Paul stayed two full years in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹ preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

In Mark 16:15-18 Jesus says: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  In today’s text it says: When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.  What happened to Paul was evidence that he was a believer. Additionally, it was a sign to those who saw it that confirmed what he said.

The text says: Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days. And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured. They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they supplied us with  everything we needed. They account does not tells us how many were saved on the Island of Malta, but surely Paul gave credit to Christ for the power to heal. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul wrote: When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. Surely there at Malta aw well, Paul accompanied the demonstration of the Spirit’s power with the declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Later the text says: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, and will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, and will not perceive; For the hearts of this people have become insensitive, And with their ears they hardly hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.”’  This is the case for us today also. In Mark 16:15-18 Jesus says: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  Not everyone will receive and believe the message of the gospel. Some will keep on hearing, and will not understand; And will keep on seeing, and will not perceive; For the hearts of this people have become insensitive, And with their ears they hardly hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes. Still others will hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And they will be healed them,”’ and they will be saved.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit, like Paul, I resolve to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. In Your power, may I be faithful to Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation, that those who believe would be healed and saved. Amen.