Paul on Malta
1 After we were brought safely through,
1we then learned that
2the island was called Malta.
2
3The native people showed us unusual
4kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
3
When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4
When
5the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another,
6"No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea,
7Justice has not allowed him to live."
5
He, however,
8shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6
They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him,
9they changed their minds and
10said that he was a god.
7
Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
8
It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and
11prayed, and
12putting his hands on him healed him.
9
And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
10
They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.