Acts 28:1-6

The Island was called Malta. Also called Melita, but not to be confused with the Melita on the coast of Illyricum. This is the island south of Sicily. It is about sixty miles in circumference. The natives. BARBAROI does not mean barbarians as we use the word today, but simply means they could not speak Greek (compare note on Acts 21:37). "Natives" is the more accurate translation. [The modern people of Malta speak an Arabic pidgin, which has elements of Italian and English.] So they built a fire. This shows they were kind and considerate people. Paul gathered up. He did not stand and watch but helped. A snake came out. A poisonous snake, perhaps like the "stinging snakes" God sent among the Israelites (Numbers 21:6). This man must be a murderer. They believed God used poisonous snakes to punish the guilty. Therefore, they believe Paul to be guilty of some horrible crime. He is a god! This is the opposite of what happened at Lystra (Acts 14:18-19). They expected Paul's hand to swell, and to see him fall dead. Paul had the special gifts from the Holy Spirit, and this showed his authority from God (compare Mark 16:17-18). Not every one was given the same gift (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11), and probably only a few had them (Acts 8:15-18).