(v.3)"And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.(v.4) And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themserlves, no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengance suffereth not to live.(v.5) And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.(v.6) Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.(v7) In the same quarters were possesions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius: who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.(v.8) And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in and prayed, and laid his hands on him and healed him.(v.9) So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island,came and were healed."
Having survived a near-fatal shipwreck, on his way to Rome, Paul got to Malta, where the enemy again tried to end his life! There are a few important points to note here.....
[1] In the Gospel of Mark Ch.16:18 we read..."They shall take up serpents...they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover". This is just what Paul did, a few years later !!! You see God's Word is True...It stands the test of time because it comes from The One Who Created time!
[2] Paul was 'on a Mission '. and so are we! If only we took seriously such Scriptures as Isaiah 54:17..."No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper..." we would realise the vistory that is ours in Christ Jesus against all the plots of the enemy.We don't have to lose one battle!
[3] People are very good at 'changing their minds'(v.6) about anything! including spiritual things! As we wholeheartedly put our trust in The Lord, we will avoid the folly of 'people - pleasing', and remain vessels fit for The Masters use !
[4] Thre is no record of anyone going away from Paul unhealed ! ALL who came to him were healed !!! This is The Power of The Holy Spirit, as we see in The Ministry Of Our Lord Jesus Christ...(Matt.4:23,24).
[5] 'Barbarians' were named because they did not speak Greek or Latin, rather than being neccessarily violent peoples.
May The Lord Bless you.