When we last saw Paul he was swimming to shore in the aftermath of a shipwreck off the coast of an unknown island while being transported by Roman soldiers to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Luke described the scene when he wrote, “The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf…He [the Roman centurion] ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship” (Acts 27:41b…43b-44a, NIV). God had appeared to Paul in Jerusalem and explained to him that he was to preach at Rome. Luke wrote, “The Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’” (Acts 23:11b, NIV). God told Paul what to do and where to do it, but He didn’t bother to tell him when he would get to do it. There had already been a two-year layover at Caesarea. Luke wrote, “The commander… called two of his centurions and ordered them, ‘Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix…When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison” (Acts 23:22a…23-24…24:27, NIV). Now there is a three-month layover on Malta! Luke wrote, “Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta…After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island” (Acts 28:1…11a, NIV). Paul must have been wondering, “Lord, will I ever get to Rome???!!!” Being patient…waiting on the Lord…is so hard for us. Isn’t it? Now let’s examine what happened during Paul’s three-month lay-over on Malta. I see three significant spiritual principles demonstrated during this episode of Paul’s life: 1) God is able to provide for His people; 2) God is able to protect His people; and 3) God has a plan for His people.