1 Once safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Because it had started raining and it was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed us all.
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and placed it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 When the natives saw the snake hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Though he has been saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 However, Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm.