Paul on Malta
1 And [after we] were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.
2
And the local inhabitants showed {extraordinary} kindness to us, for they lit a fire [and] welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold.
3
And [when] Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing [them] on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat [and] fastened itself on his hand.
4
And when the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, "Doubtless this man is a murderer whom, [although he] was rescued from the sea, Justice has not permitted to live!"
5
He, in turn, shook off the creature into the fire [and] suffered no harm.
6
But they were expecting [that] he was going to swell up or suddenly to fall down dead. So [after] they had waited for a long [time] and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds [and] began saying [that] he was a god.
7
Now in the [regions] around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, {named} Publius, who welcomed us [and] entertained [us] hospitably [for] three days.
8
And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went to {him} and [after] praying, he placed [his] hands on him [and] healed him.
9
And [after] this had taken place, the rest of those on the island who had diseases were coming and being healed also.
10
They also honored us with many honors, and [when we] were putting out to sea, they gave [us] the [things] {we needed}.
Paul Arrives in Rome at Last
11 Now after three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian [one] {with the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its insignia}.