Paul Heals the Sick in Melita
Acts 28:8–9
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.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“These healings came by Paul’s faith, for the heathen inhabitants of Melita as yet had not so much as heard of those truths and laws out of which faith grows. But who can doubt that Paul, during the three months of his enforced sojourn there, taught them that measure of truth which their circumstances qualified them to receive. In any event the healings stand as a witness of the wondrous goodness and grace of God, poured out liberally upon a spiritually untutored people, because of their kindness toward one of His missionaries and ministers [compare Acts 3:1–16].
“. . . Paul follows the prescribed pattern, (‘They shall lay hands on the sick’), and the promised result (‘They shall recover’), is immediately forthcoming [Mark 16:18]. And thus again and anew does Holy Writ testify that where God’s true ministers are, there the sick will be healed by the laying on of hands, and that where this gift of the Spirit is not found, there the Church and kingdom of God is not.”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 2:207–8.)
