1. After reaching land safely, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2. The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. Because it was rainy and cold, they built a fire and welcomed all of us.
3. Paul gathered a bunch of dry sticks and put them on the fire. As he did, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, latched on to his hand.
4. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer! He was rescued from the sea, but the goddess Justice hasn’t let him live!"
5. Paul shook the snake into the fire and suffered no harm.