December 14, Day 348

Today's Reading

One of my favorite childhood movies was Swiss Family Robinson. No doubt you remember the story: shipwrecked, the family is trapped on a desert island where they encounter great dangers and live in a treehouse. The closing scenes in Acts include a vivid description of shipwreck and danger. Paul and his fellow travelers face possible death for days. God, however, wanted Paul in Rome.

On the island of Malta, Paul prayed for father of Publius, the Roman official and the man was healed. Then Paul's team began to minister to other sick people. The word used to describe the healing of Publius' father denotes a miraculous cure. The word used to describe the other healing describes the application of medicine. Remember that Luke, who wrote this history, was a medical doctor.

In Rome, Paul was still a prisoner, but he had a certain freedom. He used it to keep preaching the Gospel. While we may find much to disagree with in the Roman Catholic church today, their earliest history springs back to the work of Paul and others.

I found Acts stimulating and refreshing. I hope you did, too.