Paul on Malta

28 Once [fn]they had safely reached shore, they found out that the island was called [fn]Malta. 2 The native people showed us extraordinary kindness. For they welcomed us all and kindled a fire because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold. 3 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and when he was putting them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and [fn]fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man is undoubtedly a murderer. Although he has been saved from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 The people were expecting that he would soon swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after waiting expectantly for a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 Now in the region around that place were lands that belonged to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and hospitably took care of us as his guests for three days. 8 Now it so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fevers and dysentery. So Paul went in to see him and healed him by praying and laying his hands on him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. 10 So the people bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to set sail, they provided us with the things we needed.