Acts 28:1-9 ▼

1 And after we had escaped, we then realized that the island was called Malta. Yet truly, the natives offered us no small amount of humane treatment.

2 For they refreshed us all by kindling a fire, because rain was imminent and because of the cold.

3 But when Paul had gathered together a bundle of twigs, and had placed them on the fire, a viper, which had been drawn to the heat, fastened itself to his hand.

4 And truly, when the natives saw the beast hanging from his hand, they were saying to one another: “Certainly, this man must be a murderer, for though he escaped from the sea, vengeance will not permit him to live.”

5 But shaking off the creature into the fire, he indeed suffered no ill effects.

6 But they were supposing that he would soon swell up, and then would suddenly fall down and die. But having waited a long time, and seeing no ill effects in him, they changed their minds and were saying that he was a god.

7 Now among these places were estates owned by the ruler of the island, named Publius. And he, taking us in, showed us kind hospitality for three days.

8 Then it happened that the father of Publius lay ill with a fever and with dysentery. Paul entered to him, and when he had prayed and had laid his hands on him, he saved him.

9 When this had been done, all who had diseases on the island approached and were cured.