A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XXVIII - II
"I, Paul, so appreciate the kindness of the people who welcomed us when we got to the shore of Malta.... They specially built a fire for us so we could warm ourselves.... I decided to help them a little by carrying some brushwood to the fire and putting it on the fire.... While doing so I noticed a viper coming out from the wood... It moved so quickly that I could not prevent it from biting me.... As soon as it had bitten me I was able to shake it off.... It then fell into the fire... I carried on putting more brushwood on the fire.... I noticed that people were looking at me and talking to each other.. In fact, they kept watching me... Were they expecting something to happen to me?... I suddenly realised they were expecting me to swell up and fall dead... But that did not happen.... For God has other plans for me... He has told me that I am to go to Rome to testify about Him.. He is, therefore, not allowing me to die at this time... I wonder if the people think that I am not a criminal but a god because I am still alive...The trust is that I am neither a criminal nor a god but that I am a bond slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.".... Please read the attached story when you will learn how the people on the island of Malta reacted when they saw Paul being bit by a viper...
ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XVIII - II
Paul, who with all the other prisoners, as well as the sailors and soldiers, had safely arrived on the island of Malta, was trying to give the islanders a hand by keeping the fire they had build, going. However, he then ended up in trouble by being bitten by a viper. The islanders, who, no doubt, were pleased with his help then became susicous of him for it looks like justice was finally catching up with him. But, as they continued to watch Paul they noticed that he simply shook the viper off his hand and carried on putting wood on the fire. Did that mean he was, in fact, a god, since he had no side effects from the bite whatsoever as you can read in Acts 28:4-6
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, justice has not allowed him to live."But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing ususual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
There is truly nothing new under the sun: people were fickle then and people are fickle today....
Read Part Sixteen HERE
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