Acts 28:1-9 ▼

1 AFTERWARDS they learned that the island was called Mel’i-ta.

2 And the barbarians who inhabited it showed us much kindness: for they kindled a fire and called us all to warm ourselves, because of heavy rain and the cold.

3 And Paul picked up a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire and a scorpion driven by the heat, came out and bit his hand.

4 And when the barbarians saw it hanging from his hand, they said, It may be that this man is a murderer, whom though he has been rescued from the sea, yet justice does not permit him to live.

5 But Paul shook his hand and threw the viper into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 However, the barbarians expected he would immediately swell up and fall to the ground dead: but after they had waited for a long while, and saw he had not been harmed, they changed their talk, and said that he was a god.

7 There were villages in that region, belonging to a man whose name was Pub’li-us, the chief man of the island; and he gladly received us at his house for three days.

8 But the father of Pub’li-us was sick with fever and dysentery: so Paul went in to where he was lying and prayed, then he laid his hand on him and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others also sick in the island, came, and were healed.