Paul's Shipwreck on Malta

Paul was placed in the custody of Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, to be transported by ship to Italy (Acts 27:1). Luke and Aristarchus accompanied him on the journey, which began by sailing to Sidon and eventually transferring to an Alexandrian ship at Myra (Acts 27:2-6). The text does not say what Aristarchus or Luke said during the voyage. As the vessel encountered heavy winds near Crete, Paul warned the officers that the voyage would result in injury and loss, but Julius followed the advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship instead (Acts 27:10-11). A violent wind called a Northeaster struck the ship, forcing the crew to throw the cargo and tackle overboard to stay afloat.

After many days without seeing the sun or stars, Paul stood before the men and stated that an angel of God had appeared to him, promising that no lives would be lost although the ship would be destroyed (Acts 27:22-24). On the fourteenth night, the sailors sensed they were nearing land and dropped four anchors to prevent the ship from hitting rocks. Paul urged everyone to eat for their survival, and all 276 people on board eventually attempted to reach the shore when the ship ran aground on a sandbar (Acts 27:33-41). The vessel broke apart under the force of the waves, but every person reached land safely, either by swimming or floating on planks (Acts 27:44).

Upon reaching the shore, the survivors learned the island was called Malta (Acts 28:1). While helping to gather wood for a fire, Paul was bitten by a viper, but he suffered no ill effects, leading the local people to change their minds and say he was a god (Acts 28:3-6). The chief official of the island, a man named Publius, welcomed the group into his home for three days. Paul entered the room of the father of Publius, who was sick with fever and dysentery, and healed him by praying and laying on his hands (Acts 28:7-8). The text does not say the specific medical diagnosis beyond these symptoms.