Book of Common Prayer

The viper does not hurt Paul’s hand. He heals Publius’ father, and preaches Christ at Rome.

28 And when they had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. ² And the people of the island showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire, and took us in every one, because of the falling rain and because of the cold.

³ And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them into the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, which leapt upon his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the venomous snake hanging on his hand, they said among themselves, This man must be a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffers not to live. ⁵ But he shook the snake off into the fire and felt no ill effect. ⁶ However, they waited for him to swell up or fall down dead suddenly. But after they had waited a great while and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

⁷ In the same region, the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius, had a lordship. He received us and kindly lodged us for three days. ⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of dysentery. Paul entered in to him and prayed, and laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹ When this was done, others also who had diseases in the isle came and were healed. ¹⁰ And they honoured us greatly; and when we departed, they brought on board such things as were necessary.

¹¹ After three months, we departed in a ship of Alexandria that had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was Castor and Pollux. ¹² And when we came to Syracuse, we stayed there three days. ¹³ And from there we made a circuit and came to Rhegium.

And after one day, the south wind blew. And we came the next day to Puteoli, ¹⁴ where we found brethren and were invited to stay with them seven days; and so we went on toward Rome.

¹⁵ And from Rome, when the brethren heard of us, they came out as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and gained courage. ¹⁶ And when he reached Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the chief captain of the host. But Paul was allowed to dwell by himself, with one soldier to guard him.

²⁸ And it followed about eight days after those sayings that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and went up into a mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was changed, and his garment was white and shone. ³⁰ And behold, two men talked with him; and they were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared gloriously, and spoke of his departing from this life, which he was to carry through to the end at Jerusalem.

³² Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep. And when they awoke, they saw his glory, and two men standing with him. ³³ And as the men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us, being here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But he did not know what he was saying. ³⁴ While he thus spoke, there came a cloud that covered them, and they were afraid when they came under the cloud. ³⁵ And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my dear Son. Hear him!

³⁶ And as soon as the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no one in those days any of those things that they had seen.