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.
6. They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead—but after they waited a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and began to say he was a god.
7. Now in the vicinity around that place were lands belonging to the most prominent man of the island, named Publius. He welcomed us and hosted us warmly for three days.