Acts 28:1-10

"The islanders showed us unusual kindness... Paul went in to see [the chief’s father] and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him." (Acts 28:2, 8, NIV)

As we read Acts 28:1–10 we see the unstoppable, Spirit-empowered spread of the gospel. God turns delays into delivery routes. He makes seemingly disastrous detours, our “Malta moments”, into Ministry moments.

You’ve probably had a “Malta moment” — a time when your plans were completely disrupted, things went wrong, and you were forced into a situation you never asked for. That’s exactly what happened to Paul in Acts 28. Shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, delayed from reaching his destination… and yet, exactly where God wanted him to be.

Paul’s detour to Malta wasn’t a mistake. It was a ministry opportunity. And in that, we see how God works through our interruptions.

Paul had been promised by God: “You must stand before Caesar” (27:24). But before reaching Rome, he’s shipwrecked and washed up on an unfamiliar island. Even then, the mission didn’t stop — it just took a different path. God’s purposes don’t rely on our perfect planning. Storms, delays, even disasters — none of them can stop the spread of the gospel. Sometimes the very things that look like setbacks are part of the Spirit’s strategy.

On Malta, Paul didn’t waste time sulking. He healed the chief’s father, opened doors for gospel conversation, and became a witness to the entire community. What looked like a random delay was actually a divine setup. When plans fall apart, our first reaction might be frustration. But what if we saw interruptions as invitations to minister?

The islanders “showed us unusual kindness” (28:2). Paul received it with humility, not pride. In doing so, he built trust. In return, he offered something greater: the healing and hope of Jesus Christ. Hospitality — giving and receiving it — often opens the door for deep spiritual conversations. Jesus did the same when He went to Zacchaeus’s house and shared meals with sinners.

When your day is interrupted or plans fall apart, pause and ask: What is God doing here? Who can I serve or pray for? When someone shows you kindness, receive it. Let it become a bridge to gospel conversations. Don’t rush through detours. They may be the very place God wants to use you most.

How might you respond this week?

• Can you think of a time when an unexpected disruption led to a meaningful opportunity to serve or share your faith?

• How might your perspective shift if you began viewing interruptions as possible invitations from God rather than obstacles?