28And after we^* were brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. ²And the local inhabitants showed extraordinary^a kindness to us, for they lit a fire and^* welcomed us all, because of the rain that had begun and because of the cold. ³And 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. ⁴And 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!”

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Footnotes

*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were brought safely through”) which is understood as temporal
aLiterally “not the ordinary”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“lit”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had gathered”)
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came out”) has been translated as a finite verb
*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began saying”)
*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was rescued”) which is understood as concessive
*Here personified as a goddess

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 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. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Once safely ashore, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. When the local people saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man, no doubt, is a murderer. Even though he has escaped the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us.

As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

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