Acts 28:1-10 - Homiletics

Kindness.

Genuine kindness is a pleasant thing to see by whomsoever and under whatsoever circumstances it is exercised. God has planted it in the human breast, and it is one of the distinctive attributes of man. Too often, indeed, the indulgence of bad passions is suffered to choke it, and rival interests to interfere with its action. Still, there it is, a faint reflection, it is true, of the love of God, but nevertheless a remnant of God's image in man; pleasant to behold, sweetening the relations of man with man, and capable, if allowed to exercise its rightful sway over human actions, of increasing to an almost infinite extent the happiness of the human race. Kindness shows itself, mainly, in two ways. First, in a general inclination to promote the well-being of others. But secondly and chiefly, in sentiments of sorrow and compassion for the misfortunes of others, and in active endeavors to relieve their sufferings and supply their wants. Such was the kindness of these simple Maltese peasants. They saw before them nearly three hundred persons in the extremest destitution. Houseless, without food, drenched with wet from the sea and from the rain, without any change of raiment, shivering with cold, exhausted with fatigue, their plight was most miserable. When the kind islanders saw them they were touched with their misfortunes, nor did they rest in pitiful feelings only. They set actively to work to alleviate their sufferings. They opened their humble dwellings to receive them. They supplied them with what food they could. They helped them to dry their dripping clothes; they collected fuel to kindle fires by which to warm them; they gave themselves no little trouble and labor to give them every comfort within their reach. And what enhances the kindness is that there could be no hope of reward. The men whom they were helping had lost everything they possessed. Their whole property had gone down to the bottom of the sea. They could give nothing in return for what they received. All the more was the uncommon kindness which they showed them pure and unalloyed with selfishness. They were unconsciously obeying the precept of Paul's Master, "Do good, hoping for nothing again." May we not hope that they found the truth of his promise, " Your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest"? It is a great confirmation of this hope that we read in the following verses how the hand of the Lord was stretched out in signs and wonders. The miracles of Scripture are never useless or gratuitous displays of power. The most obvious purpose of those wrought in Malta was the conversion of the natives; and it is very pleasant to think that those kind men who were privileged to minister to the necessities of Paul and Luke and their companions in the faith, reaped a rich and unexpected reward, when they learned at their mouths the blessed promises of God's grace, and were received into the number of the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.