1. When we were safe on land, we learned that the island was called Malta.
2. The people who lived there were very good to us. It was raining and very cold, so they built a fire and welcomed all of us.
3. Paul gathered a pile of sticks for the fire. He was putting the sticks on the fire, and a poisonous snake came out because of the heat and bit him on the hand.
4. When the people living on the island saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said, “This man must be a murderer! He did not die in the sea, but Justice does not want him to live.”
5. But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and was not hurt.
6. The people thought he would swell up or fall down dead. They waited and watched him for a long time, but nothing bad happened to him. So they changed their opinion. They said, “He is a god!”
7. There were some fields around that same area. They were owned by a man named Publius, the most important Roman official on the island. He welcomed us into his home and was very good to us. We stayed in his house for three days.
8. Publius’ father was very sick. He had a fever and dysentery, but Paul went to him and prayed for him. He laid his hands on the man and healed him.
9. After this happened, all the other sick people on the island came to Paul, and he healed them too.