Move Aside Molly Brown, Make Way for Paul Quiz

Answer: 14

Yes, Paul's ship was battered for 14 days, or two weeks. Scripture leaves no doubt the storm was severe. In Acts 27:18, it states the ship took "such a violent battering from the storm" the crew began to throw the cargo overboard. Acts 27:19-20 tells of the despair felt by the people on the ship: "On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved."

Answer: He must stand trial before Caesar and no one on the ship would perish.

The correct answer is that the angel told Paul he must stand trial before Caesar and no one on the ship would perish. It's quite a prediction because verse 37 indicates there were 276 people on the ship. Surely not every single one was a skilled swimmer and, considering the severity of the storm, it would appear that even skilled swimmers wouldn't stand much of a chance of surviving in the storm-tossed waters.

Answer: He wanted to spare Paul's life.

It's abundantly apparent the centurion had a lot of respect for Paul. Scripture doesn't say he was opposed to the plan to kill the other prisoners, but he definitely wanted to spare Paul's life. Acts 27:42-44, in the NIV Bible, states: "The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.

But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship.

In this way everyone reached land in safety."

Answer: Their unusual kindness.

The islanders were unusually friendly to Paul and his group and Luke, the writer of Acts, points this out a number of times in the 28th chapter. In Verse 10, he states the islanders "honored" them in many ways.

Answer: He suffered no ill effects.

Scripture states the snake bite had no impact on Paul, much to the amazement of the islanders. Acts 28:4-6, in the NIV Bible, states: "When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.' But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god."

Answer: Publius

The correct answer is Publius. Luke, the writer of Acts, is short on details, but writes Publius "welcomed us into his home and for three days entertained us hospitably." This is the only time Publius is mentioned in the Bible.

Answer: Paul went to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.

The correct answer is that Paul went to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. However, Luke, the writer of Acts, gives no further details about the father of the chief official of Malta.

Answer: He healed many sick people on the island.

According to verse 9, Paul was a busy man healing the sick of the island. After his encounter with the father of the island's chief official, word must have spread quickly about Paul. Scripture states "the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured."

Answer: They furnished them with needed supplies.

The people of Malta were extremely generous to Paul and his group. Luke, the writer of Acts, states "when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed." He also states the islanders "honored" them in "many ways."

Answer: True

This is the only time Malta is mentioned in the Bible. Had it not been for the major storm, it appears the island would never have made it into the Holy Book.