Acts 28:1–10

¹And when we got safe to land we then knew that the island was called Melita. ²But the barbarians shewed us no common kindness; for, having kindled a fire, they took us all in because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. ³And Paul having gathered a certain quantity of sticks together in a bundle and laid it on the fire, a viper coming out from the heat seized his hand. ⁴And when the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to one another, This man is certainly a murderer, whom, though saved out of the sea, Nemesis has not allowed to live. ⁵He however, having shaken off the beast into the fire, felt no harm. ⁶But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down suddenly dead. But when they had expected a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, changing their opinion, they said he was a god. ⁷Now in the country surrounding that place were the lands belonging to the chief man of the island, by name Publius, who received us and gave us hospitality three days in a very friendly way. ⁸And it happened that the father of Publius lay ill of fever and dysentery; to whom Paul entered in, and having prayed and laid his hands on him cured him. ⁹But this having taken place, the rest also who had sicknesses in the island came and were healed: ¹⁰who also honoured us with many honours, and on our leaving they made presents to us of what should minister to our wants.