While the verse highlights Paul's miraculous healing, it subtly shows that he prayed before laying hands on the man. This isn't just a physical act of healing; it's a spiritual one, demonstrating that even Paul recognized his power was not his own but flowed from God through prayer.
It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a harrowing shipwreck, Paul and the survivors find refuge on the island of Malta. There, Paul's shipwrecked state leads to a dramatic encounter with a viper, which he shakes off unharmed, impressing the locals. This miraculous event immediately precedes Paul encountering the gravely ill father of Publius, the island's chief official, and ministering to him.
Paul healed a man by praying and laying on hands. What does this tell us about how God works through His people?
Paul’s healing of Publius’ father wasn't just a display of power, but a profound act of compassion that involved a partnership between human action and divine power.
A Prayerful Foundation
Paul didn't just show up and magically heal. The text explicitly states he 'prayed.' This highlights that even with the gift of healing, his first step was to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of power and to seek His will. It wasn't Paul's inherent ability, but God's power working through Paul.
The Act of Laying On Hands
Following the prayer, Paul 'laid his hands on him.' This action, common in Scripture, signifies identification, blessing, and the conveyance of divine power. It was a tangible, physical act that corresponded with the spiritual reality of God's healing touch. This practice is echoed in the New Testament, reminding us that God often uses visible means to bring about His invisible work.
God's Power, Man's Instrument
It's crucial to see this as God’s work, with Paul as the willing instrument. The healing was instantaneous and miraculous, a clear sign of God's intervention. This partnership between prayer, symbolic action, and God’s sovereign power is a model for how believers can engage with God’s work in the world today.
This healing happened shortly after the islanders showed Paul great kindness. Is there a connection between generosity and divine blessing?
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The healing of Publius' father was not random; it occurred in direct response to the extraordinary kindness shown to Paul and his companions by the people of Malta.
Reciprocity in Action
After their shipwreck, the 'barbarians' of Malta showed Paul and his crew 'unusual kindness.' They 'lit a fire' for them and 'welcomed them all.' This act of hospitality, especially towards strangers in distress, set the stage for God’s powerful intervention.
God Honors Compassion
God’s response through Paul’s healing ministry demonstrates that He notices and honors genuine acts of kindness and compassion extended to His servants. Publius, the chief man of the island, offered hospitality, and Paul, in turn, brought a miraculous blessing to his household. This shows God’s desire to bless those who bless His people.
A Bridge to the Gospel
This remarkable display of divine power not only repaid the kindness shown but also served as a powerful testimony to the people. It opened their hearts and minds to Paul and his message, paving the way for further healing and likely the spread of the Gospel on the island.
Understand the original words
arrōstiais · Greek Noun
A state of physical or spiritual sickness; in the Bible, it is often associated with the consequences of the Fall, yet used here as a context for miraculous demonstration of divine power through the Apostles.
epitheis tas cheiras · Greek Verb phrase
A symbolic act in Scripture representing the transfer of power, authority, blessing, or the impartation of the Holy Spirit; it signifies identification with God's healing or commission.
iasato · Greek Verb
The restorative power of God acting upon human weakness or illness; in the New Testament, signs and wonders were performed by the Apostles to authenticate the gospel message and demonstrate Christ's authority over creation.
The healing of Publius's father wasn't just a random act; it occurred after a dramatic shipwreck and set the stage for Paul's ministry on Malta, demonstrating God's power and provision even in difficult circumstances.
c. AD 60
Shipwreck on Malta
Paul and his companions are shipwrecked on the island of Malta while sailing to Rome. They survive the ordeal and are shown great hospitality by the local inhabitants, who are described as 'barbarians' but are kind and understanding.
c. AD 60— this verse
Paul Heals Publius's Father
Paul encounters Publius, the leading man of Malta, whose father is gravely ill with fever and dysentery. Paul prays for the man, lays hands on him, and he is miraculously healed. The Greek terms used suggest a serious and complex illness.
c. AD 60
Further Healings on Malta
Following the healing of Publius's father, other sick individuals on the island come to Paul and are also healed. This leads to increased honor and provisions for Paul and his companions.
c. AD 60
Departure from Malta
After spending three months on Malta and waiting for favorable sailing conditions, Paul and his group depart on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered there.
c. AD 60
Arrival in Italy
Paul and his companions sail from Malta, eventually reaching Puteoli in Italy after stopping in Syracuse and Rhegium. They find fellow believers there and stay for a week before continuing their journey to Rome.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Arrival and Imprisonment in Rome
Paul finally arrives in Rome, where he is allowed to live in his own hired house but under guard, as he awaits his trial before Caesar. This period allows him to minister to Jewish leaders and others.
This passage directly echoes the promise of Jesus that believers 'will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover,' mirroring the action Paul took in healing Publius' father.
James 5:14-15The instruction for elders to pray for the sick, anointing them with oil, resonates with Paul's prayer and the healing that followed, highlighting the connection between prayer and divine healing.
1 Kings 17:17-24This story shows Elijah healing the son of the widow of Zarephath through prayer and God's intervention, demonstrating a precedent for God using prophets to bring miraculous healing to those who show kindness.
John 9:1-3When asked if a man's blindness was due to his sin or his parents' sin, Jesus explained that it was so the power of God could be displayed through him. This offers a similar perspective to how a severe illness might be allowed to manifest so God's healing power can be showcased.
ellicottActs 28:8: "And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him."
(8) Lay sick of a fever and a bloody flux. —Literally, with fevers and dysentery, both words being used by St. Luke with professional precision. The plural, “fevers,” probably indicates the attacks of a recurrent fever, and its combination with dysentery would, according to Hippocrates, who also uses the plural for…
henryActs 28:1-10: "And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita."
28:1-10 God can make strangers to be friends; friends in distress. Those who are despised for homely manners, are often more friendly than the more polished; and the conduct of heathens, or persons called barbarians, condemns many in civilized nations, professing to be Christians. The people thought that Paul was a murderer, and that the viper was sent by Divine justice, to be the avenger of blood. The…
While the verse highlights Paul's miraculous healing, it subtly shows that he prayed before laying hands on the man. This isn't just a physical act of healing; it's a spiritual one, demonstrating that even Paul recognized his power was not his own but flowed from God through prayer.
After a harrowing shipwreck, Paul and the survivors find refuge on the island of Malta. There, Paul's shipwrecked state leads to a dramatic encounter with a viper, which he shakes off unharmed, impressing the locals. This miraculous event immediately precedes Paul encountering the gravely ill father of Publius, the island's chief official, and ministering to him.
After a harrowing shipwreck, Paul and the survivors find refuge on the island of Malta. There, Paul's shipwrecked state leads to a dramatic encounter with a viper, which he shakes off unharmed, impressing the locals. This miraculous event immediately precedes Paul encountering the gravely ill father of Publius, the island's chief official, and ministering to him.
"It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also…" — While the verse highlights Paul's miraculous healing, it subtly shows that he prayed before laying hands on the man. This isn't just a physical act of healing; it's a spiritual one, demonstrating t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
