1. When they had escaped, they learned that the island was called Malta.
2. The natives showed extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain and the cold.
3. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper driven out by the heat fastened on his hand.
4. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice does not allow him to live.”
5. But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6. They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But while they waited and saw no harm befall him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7. In that area was an estate of the chief man of the island, named Publius, who had welcomed us and courteously housed us for three days.
8. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, placing his hands on him, prayed and healed him.
9. When this happened, the rest on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
10. They honored us in many ways. And when we sailed, they provided us with necessary supplies.
11. After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.
12. Landing at Syracuse, we waited there for three days.