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.
8. It so happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, when he had prayed and laid hands on him, he healed him.
9. After this happened, the rest of the sick on the island started coming and getting healed.
10. They also heaped honors on us; and when we sailed, they put on board all the supplies we needed.
11. After three months, we set sail in a ship from Alexandria that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.
12. Setting down at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
13. From there we got underway and reached Rhegium; and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
14. There we found some brothers and sisters, and we were invited to stay with them for seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.
15. Now the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage.