1 And when they were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. {or Malta} 2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a great fire and received all of us because of the present rain and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 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 has escaped the sea, yet vengeance does not suffer him to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire and felt no harm. 6 But they were waiting to see when he should have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly; but after they had waited a great while and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 In the same quarters were possessions of a principal man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and lodged us three days courteously. 8 And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of dysentery, to whom Paul entered in and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also, who had diseases in the island, came and were healed, 10 who also honoured us with many gifts; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.