Acts 28:1-6 ▼

1 After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

2 The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold.

3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

4 When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul's hand, they said to one another, |No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!|

5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.