Acts 28:3-6

3 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. 4 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[a] has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

The shipreck miracle

Paul was imprisoned and en route to Rome to face trial when the ship he was traveling in hit a sandbar and ran aground

Acts 23:11

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome

An angel appeared to Paul and he was able to give everyone on board the word from God that all lives would be spared

Paul and a few men had just come ashore in Malta from a shipwreck where the ship was lost but everybody survived. An angel of God had told Paul everybody would be saved.

The Viper attack

Paul is helping gather wood for the fire. As he lays his bundle of sticks in the flames, a viper comes out of the wood and bites Paul, hanging onto his hand

Paul shook the snake off and the people waited to see what would happen to him.

Paul faced a real trial when he was bitten by a poisonous snake. But, God in His mercy, fulfilled His promise

The Miracle

Mark:16:18

These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them:they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Of course he didn’t take the venom but the wide promise of protection against poison and snakes is at the core of this promise of Jesus.

Luke 10:19

Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you.

Shake off the snake

As soon as Paul is bitten by the snake, the people of the island begin to criticize him

Neptune, the god of the sea, had not taken him, but Nemesis, the goddess in charge of dispensing justice would!

People are often quick to criticize when they do not understand what they see and hear.

These people were sitting there watching Paul, waiting for him to swell up, fall down and die

Are some vipers attaching themselves to your life? Shake off that snake!

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