Acts 28:3
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
After the shipwreck on the barbarous island of Melita, Paul showed himself the most self-possessed and helpful man among the chilled survivors by gathering sticks and wood with his own hands to kindle a fire for their benefit. A deadly viper, revived by the heat, darted out and fastened on his hand, but he shook it off into the fire and suffered no harm despite its venom. The onlookers were filled with terror and first read the bite as proof that he was a murderer pursued by divine vengeance. When he remained unharmed they reversed their judgment and called him a god.
He acted calmly because he implicitly trusted in God that it could not harm him. That calm reveals firm courage, hope and cheer in most discouraging circumstances, freedom from doubt, fear and despair, and confidence in God's ability and willingness to give grace and protection. His protection is the kind of danger from serpents covered by Jesus' promise that His followers would take up serpents without harm, by which miraculous signs and wonders made the testimony about Christ known and confirmed the apostles' witness.
The voyage as a prisoner fulfilled God's special purpose that the ship's crew would witness His power through Paul and that the heathen would hear the name of Jesus. Though bound, his work for Christ went forward, and his bonds became the means of spreading the knowledge of Christ and glorifying God. The incident gave Paul influence that he used to lead the islanders toward the gospel, and many were converted through his teaching and by witnessing the miracles he wrought.
The surrounding account shows heathen men who had no knowledge of God's written law and had never heard the name of Christ yet were kind to His servants and protected them at the risk of their own lives, revealing the working of God's Holy Spirit and divine power. The Holy Spirit had implanted the grace of Christ in the savage heart and quickened sympathy contrary to nature and contrary to education. The Light that enlightens every person coming into the world was shining in their souls to guide their feet to the kingdom of God if heeded. Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy and the heart reaches out to bless and uplift others, the working of God's Holy Spirit is revealed.