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of philos, love,” and anthropos, “man.” In Titus 3:4, philanthropia is used to describe
God’s loving kindness toward men.

Act 28:3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came
out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

Paul is not laying on the shore with the rest of the people who are recovering from the
shipwreck. He is helping start the fire. He is gathering sticks because this has always been his
ministry as an under rower. Snakes become dormant in the cold. This snake has been sleeping
among the sticks, and Paul does not distinguish the snake from the wood. The fire causes the
snake to jump out at Paul and fasten to his hand. Its fangs are buried deep into Paul’s hand.

Act 28:4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one
another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice
does not allow to live."

And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast (snake) hang on his hand, they said among
themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet
vengeance (an act of the gods) suffereth not to live.

The snake keeps hanging onto Paul’s hand in plain sight of everyone while they questioned and
reasoned among themselves. The sinners assume the same thing many Christians do, “God is
punishing him.” They do not understand the tactics of Satan, therefore they blame God for
everything in life. These natives assume the god of vengeance is after Paul because he must be
a murderer. They have assigned to him a sin and already judged him. Their venom is worse
than that of the snake.

Act 28:5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.

The snake holds fast to Paul’s hand. Paul has to take authority over it (Luke 10:19; Mark 16:8)
for the grip to loosen. Paul does not pry its mouth open with his other hand; God breaks the
grip, and Paul suffers no harm. Paul is not too concerned about ecology. He drops the snake
into the fire to be burned up! He does not release it back into its natural habitat.

Act 28:6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But
after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds
and said that he was a god.

There are two reactions caused by this snake. An instant death or the body swelling up, causing
a slow death. As these men continue to stare at Paul, neither reaction occurs. Paul is
miraculously spared. Because of this, one minute Paul is a murderer in their thinking, and the
next, he is a god. Because of this miracle, many people received Jesus as savior. Because of the
healing of the father of the Roman governor of the island, many more will believe and be born
again. There will be a church started on Malta. Many of the Maltese believers will also be
healed and taught the Word during the next three winter months Paul is with them.