And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
The account belongs to a heathen setting where people showed kindness to God's servants even at risk to themselves, revealing God's power working through the Holy Spirit to awaken sympathy and kindness in hearts that had not known the written law or heard Christ's name. A venomous viper fastened on Paul's hand, and he shook the beast into the fire and suffered no harm, with no illness or ill effects following despite the venomous bite. His protection when he shook the serpent into the fire fulfills Jesus' promise that deadly danger would not harm His apostles.
The onlookers expected him to fall ill and die in agony, and after watching him for a long time without harm they reversed their judgment. At first they took the bite as proof that vengeance would kill him, then when he remained well they called him a god. Paul acted calmly, self-possessed and helpful even after the shipwreck, shaking the viper into the fire without being harmed. He knew it could not harm him because he implicitly trusted in God.
His survival without harm illustrates the promised sign that deadly serpents would not hurt those sent to proclaim the gospel, with such signs confirming their testimony about Christ. During Paul's prisoner voyage by sea, God had a special purpose that the ship's crew would witness His power through Paul and that the heathen would hear the name of Jesus. The miracle together with Paul's teaching was given to glorify God. The event 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 account belongs to a heathen setting where people showed kindness to God's servants even at risk to themselves, revealing God's power working through the Holy Spirit to awaken sympathy and kindness in hearts that had not known the written law or heard Christ's name. A venomous viper fastened on Paul's hand, and he shook the beast into the fire and suffered no harm, with no illness or ill effects following despite the venomous bite. His protection when he shook the serpent into the fire fulfills Jesus' promise that deadly danger would not harm His apostles.
The onlookers expected him to fall ill and die in agony, and after watching him for a long time without harm they reversed their judgment. At first they took the bite as proof that vengeance would kill him, then when he remained well they called him a god. Paul acted calmly, self-possessed and helpful even after the shipwreck, shaking the viper into the fire without being harmed. He knew it could not harm him because he implicitly trusted in God.
His survival without harm illustrates the promised sign that deadly serpents would not hurt those sent to proclaim the gospel, with such signs confirming their testimony about Christ. During Paul's prisoner voyage by sea, God had a special purpose that the ship's crew would witness His power through Paul and that the heathen would hear the name of Jesus. The miracle together with Paul's teaching was given to glorify God. The event 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.