A Midsummer's Reflection Series

Friday, June 26, 2026

Meditation 26: Acts 28:7

The White Orchard, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Arles, April 1888

Near the very end of the Acts of the Apostles, we find the example of the hospitality of a non-Christian who provides a great example Christians can follow. Paul and Luke are on the island of Malta en route to Rome, where Paul will stand trial before the Roman Emperor for being a Christian. The island of Malta’s leader, “the chief man of the island," whose name was Publius, possessed a large amount of land (28:7).

Despite not being a Christian, Publius “entertained” Paul and Luke “hospitably for three days” (28:7). That is, Publius extended hospitality with them for three days, welcoming them into his home on the expansive land that belonged to him. This was prior to Paul miraculously healing Publius’ father of dysentery (28:8), which was and remains a major cause of death around the globe. 

We find in this passage another example of someone of tremendous financial means extending hospitality, by using the means at their disposal, to those they find in need, in this case, Paul and Luke. We may not have a large house or a large amount of land, but most of us can probably find some way we can meet the needs of others, thereby extending the warmth of Christian hospitality.  

If we don’t have much money to give or space to open up for others, perhaps there is some service we can perform to meet someone’s need. Maybe we could clean something of theirs that needs cleaning—a house, a yard, a room, dishes, a car? Maybe we could watch their children for them, or help perform necessary chores? Maybe someone we know just needs someone they can speak with who will listen attentively to them? Lending our ears and our time can be a way of living a generous hospitality to someone who will feel appreciated and worthy of time and attention.

Lord, help us to find ways to lovingly live a creative hospitality with others, through sharing what we have; sacrificing some of our time and effort; and helping them recognize that you, O Lord, love them and have concern for them. Help us be vessels of your love for others by the way we try to serve them and meet their needs. 

Dr. Jeffrey Morrow, Ph.D. is a professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and the Director of the St. Paul Studies Center at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He spent 15 years as a professor of theology at Seton Hall University’s Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. In his final year in that role, Dr. Morrow worked on the Preaching as Hospitality Formation Program, writing these reflections on Scripture through a lens of hospitality. 

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