1 When we were safe on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.
2 The people of the island were unusually kind. It was raining and cold. So they built a fire and welcomed all of us.
3 Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. A poisonous snake was driven out by the heat. It fastened itself on Paul's hand.
4 The people of the island saw the snake hanging from his hand. They said to each other, "This man must be a murderer. He escaped from the sea. But Justice won't let him live." Justice was the name of a goddess.
5 Paul shook the snake off into the fire. He was not harmed.
6 The people expected him to swell up. They thought he would suddenly fall dead. They waited for a long time. But they didn't see anything unusual happen to him. So they changed their minds. They said he was a god.