Acts 28:3

"But when Paul had gathered. bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire" In order to keep such. fire going fresh fuel is constantly needed and Paul immediately does what he can. Remember, he is probably just as wet, exhausted, sore and cold as everyone else. "Paul was not. preacher after the style of. modern clergyman, who is particular not to spoil his hands with menial labor, and who expects everybody to be ready to serve him, while he preserves his dignity and looks on" (McGarvey p. 275).

Acts 28:3 "A viper came out" Critics have accused Luke of making. mistake here seeing that there are no poisonous snakes on the island of Malta in the 20th century. Yet, this is due to the growth of human population on the island. "The island now has. denser population than at any previous time, and such animals are driven away and destroyed by man as the population increases" (Reese p. 922). In like manner, the Old Testament also mentions lions as existing in Palestine, but they do not dwell in Palestine today. In 1853. writer believed that he actually saw. viper in. bundle of sticks on the island of Malta. "Because of the heat" The viper that has been motionless because of the cold now because far more active because of the heat of the fire. "Fastened on his hand" "Lenski suggests that this was God's way of turning all eyes on Paul right from the first moment on Malta" (Reese p. 923).