.......................Malta- The Shipwreck and Sojourn on the Island......................

 

The book of the Acts of the Apostles describes the sea voyage from caesarea to Rome with interesting detail.

It was a journey full of adventures and events allowing the Apostle's witness to shine forth.

During a brief stay on Malta after a severe storm Paul asked his companions to eat with a significant symbolic action: "With these words he took some bread , gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it and began to eat.

Then the all plucked up courage and took something to eat themselves"(Acts 27:35-36)

The words and actions of Paul are reminiscent of a particular meal, that of the Eucharist(cf.1 Cor 11:23-25)

Since Paul had appealed to Caesar, the new Governor Festus sent him to Rome.

During the journey Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta.

Then Festus conferred with his advisers and replied:"You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go."(Acts 25:12)

Once we had come safely through, we discovered that the island was called Malta.

The inhabitants treated us with unusual kindness(Acts 28:1-2).

 

...................Rome Under House Arrest...................

 

"You Will receive Power when the Holy Spirit  Cpmes to you.And then you Will be my Witness Not Only in Jerusalem

But throughout Judaea and Samaria, and Indeed To The Ends of The Earth"(Acts 1:8)

The promise and the command of the Risen Lord to his disciples was being fulfilled.

The preaching of the Gospel had reached the capital city of the Empire.

In Rome both Jews and pagans met Paul and listened to what he had to say.

Mature with experience after being trained in the Jewish faith in Jerusalem, and called to become Apostle to the Gentiles on the road to Damascus, he experienced many trials in Asia Minor and Greece in order to preach the freedom of the Gospel.

After wintering for three months in Malta, Paul set off again made short stopovers in Syracuse and Reggio calabria, anf finally at Pozzuoli, where he stayed for one week.

Then he journeyed by land to Rome, where he lived for two years under house arrest, with soldier to guard him.

Paul Spent The Whole Of The Two Years in his Own Rented Lodging He Welcome All Who ComeTo Visit Him, Proclaiming The Kingdom Of God and teaching The Truth About The Lord Jesus Christ With Complete freedom And Without Hindrance From Anyone(Acts 28:30-31).

..............................The Martyrdom...........................

"Paul was Confessor was condenned to death, and the sentence was beheading with a sword.

When this blessed man arrived at the place of execution, he asked the one in charge of beheading him to wait for a moment.

When he got permission, he first of all thanked, praised and glorified God with a soft and gentle voice, for being deemed worthy of the victory of martydom.

Then he prayed for the tranquility and peace of our people, and pleaded with God to give them freedom as soon as possible.

Next he offered prayers for the Jews, many of whom surrounded him, as well as for the Samaritans and for those among the Gentiles who were still ignorant of the faith.

He prayed that they might all convert and come to the knowledge of the truth.

He did not forget those who stood around him, but prayed for them.And he even prayed for the judge who had condemned him to death for the kings and for the soldier who was going to behead him.

And since he was offering his prayers to God, that soldier heard him praying for all the bystanders, asking God not to hold them to account for what they were doing, He was praying for all with so much fervour in his voice that the crowd standing around him and listening to what he was saying burst into tears.

At last, he bent his head of his own free will, and uncovered his neck so glorious martyrdom took place on the 25th day of the month od Tamuz."