Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
Paul shook off a snake
On Malta a viper fastened on Paul's hand; he shook it into the fire and suffered no harm. Acts 28:3–6
Discover why
After the shipwreck, Paul gathered sticks for a fire and a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. The islanders expected him to swell up or fall down dead. Acts 28:1–4
"He shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn't harmed." The people changed their minds and said he was a god. Acts 28:5–6
Read the passage
Acts 28:3–6 WEB
3But 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. 4When 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 from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live.” 5However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn’t harmed. 6But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Test yourself
For children
When a snake bit Paul's hand, he shook it into the fire and was not hurt at all!